MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Falklands not enthusiastic about Westminster representation

Falkland Islands Councillors did not show much enthusiasm about a proposal for the British Overseas Territories to have direct representation in the Westminster and European Union Parliaments.

The merits of such an initiative were recently discussed in the Islands but with not much interest.

British Member of Parliament Daniel Kawczynski, who was due to visit the Falklands last month as part of the cancelled MP's visit, had intended to raise the issue with the Islands Councillors.

However Councillor Mike Summers says that it is unlikely that the Falklands or any other Overseas Territory would be interested in the proposal.

"We'd be less well represented by having a single member or couple of members for the OTs than we are by having our ?friends clubs', if you like, that may dissipate slightly if we have our own members", said Mr. Summers.

The issue is to be sent back to Mr Kawczynski, "...and if he comes here in November we'll talk to him about it then; in the meantime if he'd tell us why it's a good idea and why it might work we can have a look at it".

When asked if Councillors were concerned party politics could get in the way of the Falklands' cause, Mr Summers said, "...that's part of it; but if the OTs had anybody in Parliament they would be there as independents and we all know that it's not easy for independents to have much say in Parliament, so that probably wouldn't be a good thing to do."

French Overseas Departments besides their local elected representatives send Deputies to the Legislative in Paris.