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Anti-Barclay brothers petition attracts 12,000 signatures

A petition calling for the UK Justice Secretary to investigate the influence the Barclay Brothers have on Sark has attracted 12,000 signatures.

It wants Lord Faulks to ensure what it describes as Sark's 'peaceful and historic way of life' is maintained.

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Ministry of Justice speaks out on Sark's petition

The UK Ministry of Justice has responded to a petition calling for it to intervene to ease tensions in Sark.

It wants Lord Faulks to look at the relationship between the island and the Barclay Brothers who live on neighbouring Brecqhou.

In a statement to ITV News, the Ministry of Justice said:

The UK Government is committed to continuing its strong relationship with the Crown Dependencies. We are aware of the petition and encourage the people of Sark to work together with its government for a sustainable future for the island.

Elections on Sark are a matter for the island’s government and legislation is in place to cover situations where the number of candidates equals the number of vacancies. An independent observer has also been appointed by the Government of Sark. We will carefully consider any comments made by that observer.

– UK Ministry of Justice

Petition supporter urges UK action in Sark

An islander who supports the petition calling for the UK Justice Minister Lord Faulks to look at the influence of the Barclay Brothers in Sark says she can't believe 12,000 people have backed the campaign.

Rosanne Guille told ITV News: "The people who've signed it obviously agree with the sentiments of the petition, and their wishes, we would like to be heard and we'd like the support of the UK government in the work we do to keep Sark how we love it."

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Election observer questions Sark's democracy

In independent election observer who's in Sark this week to oversee the planned General Election is questioning the island's democracy.

It comes in the light of just 16 candidates putting themselves forward for the 16 vacant seats in government, called Chief Pleas.

That means the election is uncontested.

Elections are about competing visions, competing values, competing priorities. And in a context where ordinary people, electors, haven't been able to see that differentiation between candidates and therefore able to express a view about it, it raises questions about the democratic process itself.

– Howard Knight
Sark was the first island in the world to be given 'dark sky' status.

Sark petition 'wholly misconceived' say Barclay Brothers

A petition calling for the UK Justice Secretary to investigate the influence the Barclay Brothers have on Sark has attracted 12,000 signatures.

A spokesman for Sir David and Sir Frederick has issued this response.

The petition is wholly misconceived.

There is no question of my clients seeking to turn Sark into a personal tax haven. The allegation is completely false. My clients seek no changes of any kind to Sark's tax system, nor have they ever done so. Furthermore there is not a shred of evidence to support such assertions.

They have no influence whatsoever over daily life on Sark, nor do they seek any. All that my clients have done is to invest many millions of pounds into Sark's economy in an attempt to create a sustainable and successful tourism industry.

– spokesman for Sir David and Sir Frederick

Anti-Barclay brothers petition attracts 12,000 signatures

A petition opposing the influence of the billionaire Barclay Brothers on Sark has attracted 12,000 signatures.

It is calling on UK Justice Minister Lord Faulks to intervene to ensure the island's "peaceful and historic way of life" is preserved.

It follows years of wranglings between representatives of Sir David and Sir Frederick who live on the neighbouring island of Brecqhou, and politicians in the island's government, Chief Pleas, over a range of policies affecting the future of Sark.

The Barclay Brothers-owned Sark Estate Management owns property and land in Sark and has been vocal in its opposition to the way the government is run, and has pushed to increase democracy and openness in the face of what it sees as the outdated current system.

But Chief Pleas dispute those accusations, pointing out that Sark has moved from a fuedal to democratic system with open elections for politicians, called Conseillers.

The petition, when t reaches 15,000 signatures, will be delivered to Lord Faulks at Westminister with the specific request for him to use his power to maintain "the islanders' peaceful and historic way of life, and to honour the government's ultimate responsibility to ensure good governance of Sark."

It comes as the independent observer charged with overseeing the recent General Election in Sark, which in the end saw only 16 candidates put forward for 16 seats, is due to offer his comments on recent events in the island, including the island's administration.

Howard Knight was charged with "assessing the extent to which the December 2014 election in Sark respects fundamental international democratic freedoms and principles".

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