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Barclay brothers criticise Sark government Barclay brothers criticise 'undemocratic' Sark government
(35 minutes later)
The Barclay brothers, owners of the Telegraph Media Group, have launched a fierce attack on the fledgling government of the tiny Channel island of Sark, claiming it is undemocratic and harming the local economy.The Barclay brothers, owners of the Telegraph Media Group, have launched a fierce attack on the fledgling government of the tiny Channel island of Sark, claiming it is undemocratic and harming the local economy.
Sir David and Sir Frederick made clear their views about the Sark government as a House of Commons committee concluded that tensions between the wealthy twins and elected representatives on the island threatened to blight its future.Sir David and Sir Frederick made clear their views about the Sark government as a House of Commons committee concluded that tensions between the wealthy twins and elected representatives on the island threatened to blight its future.
The twins, who have a home on the nearby island of Brecqhou, claimed there was "no true democracy" on Sark, which held its first democratic elections five years ago following 400 years of feudalism.The twins, who have a home on the nearby island of Brecqhou, claimed there was "no true democracy" on Sark, which held its first democratic elections five years ago following 400 years of feudalism.
Speaking through their lawyer, Gordon Dawes, they said the Commons justice committee had "failed to identify and understand the true cause of Sark's difficulties, which is that democratic reforms have been left incomplete". They added: "Sark still has a largely feudal government which undermines such democracy as there is on Sark."Speaking through their lawyer, Gordon Dawes, they said the Commons justice committee had "failed to identify and understand the true cause of Sark's difficulties, which is that democratic reforms have been left incomplete". They added: "Sark still has a largely feudal government which undermines such democracy as there is on Sark."
The Barclays' comments will do little to ease tensions on the island. The committee says conseillers – the equivalent of MPs on the island – feel they are being targeted by threats of legal action and subjected to "intimidating attacks" in a newsletter edited by the Barclay twins' manager on Sark, where the twins own land and businesses. The Barclays' comments will do little to ease tensions on the island, highlighted in the report published on Thursday. The committee says conseillers – the equivalent of MPs on the island – feel they are being targeted by threats of legal action and subjected to "intimidating attacks" in a newsletter edited by the Barclay twins' manager on Sark, where the twins own land and businesses.
The committee also acknowledges that the brothers believe the island's parliament, the chief pleas, has brought in legislation that discriminates against them and are pushing for more constitutional change.The committee also acknowledges that the brothers believe the island's parliament, the chief pleas, has brought in legislation that discriminates against them and are pushing for more constitutional change.
The committee's report concludes: "This is a very difficult atmosphere in which to work towards a sustainable economic future for the community on Sark. We deeply regret the apparently intractable discord on Sark."The committee's report concludes: "This is a very difficult atmosphere in which to work towards a sustainable economic future for the community on Sark. We deeply regret the apparently intractable discord on Sark."
The chief pleas welcomed the committee's findings. It said: "The report acknowledges the progress made to further strengthen the governance of the island since a fully democratic government was established in 2008."The chief pleas welcomed the committee's findings. It said: "The report acknowledges the progress made to further strengthen the governance of the island since a fully democratic government was established in 2008."
It did not name the Barclays but said it backed the committee's conclusion that "disputes between different interest groups should not be allowed to get in the way of democratic and economic process".It did not name the Barclays but said it backed the committee's conclusion that "disputes between different interest groups should not be allowed to get in the way of democratic and economic process".
The Barclays were much less diplomatic, saying Sark had become a "single-party state" grouped around the former feudal seigneur (effectively the lord of the island), Michael Beaumont, who sat on a "large wooden throne" at chief pleas meetings. The Barclays were much less diplomatic, saying Sark had become a "single-party state" grouped around the former feudal seigneur (in effect the lord of the island), Michael Beaumont, who sat on a "large wooden throne" at chief pleas meetings.
"Meaningful reform and creating a sustainable future is not possible in such circumstances," they argued. The brothers claimed that the chief pleas had "adopted legislation and policies which only ensure an unsustainable future for Sark, in other words, no future"."Meaningful reform and creating a sustainable future is not possible in such circumstances," they argued. The brothers claimed that the chief pleas had "adopted legislation and policies which only ensure an unsustainable future for Sark, in other words, no future".
They gave the example of an item on the agenda of next week's chief pleas meeting proposing a tax on alcohol produced on the islands. They suggested this tax was being mooted simply to target the recently planted Barclay family vineyards on Sark.They gave the example of an item on the agenda of next week's chief pleas meeting proposing a tax on alcohol produced on the islands. They suggested this tax was being mooted simply to target the recently planted Barclay family vineyards on Sark.
The brothers made it clear that they were not involved in any ongoing legal proceedings with anyone or any bodies on Sark – any disputes were between the chief pleas and their manager on Sark, Kevin Delaney. The brothers made it clear that they were not involved in any legal proceedings with anyone or any bodies on Sark – any disputes were between the chief pleas and their manager on Sark, Kevin Delaney.
But the statement concluded: "Sir David and Sir Frederick's only regret is that they ever invested in Sark in the first place. Their hope that an injection of £30m capital into the island would secure its long-term future has all but entirely been undone by Sark's government. Any other community would have welcomed such investment with open arms and gone out of their way to create the conditions for that investment to succeed, but not Sark, which is now experiencing a self-imposed economic and social collapse."But the statement concluded: "Sir David and Sir Frederick's only regret is that they ever invested in Sark in the first place. Their hope that an injection of £30m capital into the island would secure its long-term future has all but entirely been undone by Sark's government. Any other community would have welcomed such investment with open arms and gone out of their way to create the conditions for that investment to succeed, but not Sark, which is now experiencing a self-imposed economic and social collapse."
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