Work Halted on UK Overseas Territories Strategy due to British General Election Announcement

Work on the UK Overseas Territories Strategy has been halted following the surprise announcement by British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak of a general election on 4 July.

According to a statement from the Cayman Islands government, the UKs Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office last Friday informed all overseas territories heads of government, including Montserrat’s, that work on the strategy was being put on hold until a new British government is formed.

The statement said the announcement came at the end of a week-long visit by premier Juliana O’Connor-Connolly and a delegation from Cayman to London, where they have been taking part in talks on “various strategic initiatives and the ongoing relationship between the UK and the Cayman Islands.

The new UK/Overseas Territories Strategy was announced in May last year, by the then Foreign Secretary James Cleverley.

Responding to a question in parliament earlier this month, Parliamentary Undersecretary for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office with responsibilities for the Overseas Territories, David Rutley, said the “refreshed strategy” was expected to be published this year.

He said the strategy will set clear direction and renewed aims for the UK Government across each of a set of themes: economies, environment and climate, defence and security, governance, and communities.

Rutley explains that as set out in the December 2023 UK-OT Joint Declaration, the strategy is being developed through collaboration with the Territories.

He states that c onsultations across the strategy themes are ongoing and are being delivered through engagement with OT governments, the OTs’ representatives in the UK, Governors, and other key stakeholders.