Sark election, 10th December

[🦀🎂🦀🎂]

Elections are coming up this Wednesday for a very ... peculiar ... thing in the English Channel. Although the other Channel Islands (remnants of the Norman Empire) gained democracy similarly to the UK (i.e. slowly), the fief of Sark quite happily drifted through the cracks, remaining unreformed from its Elizabethan formation, despite being invaded by Nazis; and one time by a sole Frenchman with a machine-gun. For many years, although the "Seigneur" was an American who had married into the family without realising what it entailed, the power lay with the enigmatic Dame of Sark who furiously guarded the anachronistic status of her island and was noted for her stiff upper lip (read: passive-aggressive collaboration) with the Nazis.

Unfortunately, this cosy set of affairs was not to last with the arrival of billionaire press barons and hoteliers the Barclay Brothers. The Telegraph owners arrived in the 90's, to build a hideous Disney Fairytale castle on the island of Brecqhou. To the islands annoyance, the Barclays had very little intention of following rules like "no motor cars" and "no bright lights"; and the islanders, for their part, thought the Barclays were, tacky spivs. First of all the Brothers attempted to claim that their island wasn't even part of Sark to begin with. When that tactic didn't work, the Bros. began to buy everything on the island they could get their mitts on, which prompted yet more backlash.

So the Bros. went to the ECHR, on the presumption that Sark was undemocratic, and forced the island to have their first ever election in 2008 which went down well - except, to the immense annoyance of the Barclays, only five of their lackeys won a place in the Chief Pleas. In a show of might, the Barclays closed all their businesses in the island for a few weeks, putting 200 people (a third of the islands population!) out of work. They also opened a nutty local paper, that melodramatically started labelling candidates (and indeed, ten percent of the population signed a letter saying they were "personally victimised" by the editor) as "extremely dangerous". Recently the newspaper attacked the island's doctor, for not taking a patient into the Barclay's (illegal under Sark law) helicopter. This prompted the only Sark medic to move away.

In all fairness, the other side is fairly shady as well (well, more insufferably twee). The elected Seneschal, a key ally of reigning Seigneur Michael Beaumont, is both head of the Chief Pleas (legislative body) and is Head Judge. The Barclays attempted to bring in the UK government who* drafted a weak Moderate Hero criticism of the place. Although Sark loves being calm and traditional, one does get a somewhat League of Gentlemen/Hot Fuzz vibe from reading about the place.

Anyway the Barclays are sulking and have closed their remaining Sark business for good. This election will be somewhat dull in that only 16 candidates are up for 16 elected roles, but voters will decide on the lengths of terms the candidates will be up for (two candidates will be elected for only 2 year terms).

*  The UK is traditionally loathe to bring democracy to our weird anachronistic special features (e.g. the evil corporation in the heart of London).

[Colbert]

Disney castle

[joevsimp]

Disney castles tend to be more architecturally coherent than that monstrosity. It looks like a Georgian house with added fake ramparts and Tudor chimneys

[politicus]

So the Bros. went to the ECHR, on the presumption that Sark was undemocratic, and forced the island to have their first ever election in 2008 which went down well - except, to the immense annoyance of the Barclays, only five of their lackeys won a place in the Chief Pleas. In a show of might, the Barclays closed all their businesses in the island for a few weeks, putting 200 people (a third of the islands population!) out of work. They also opened a nutty local paper, that melodramatically started labelling candidates (and indeed, ten percent of the population signed a letter saying they were "personally victimised" by the editor) as "extremely dangerous". Recently the newspaper attacked the island's doctor, for not taking a patient into the Barclay's (illegal under Sark law) helicopter. This prompted the only Sark medic to move away.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfIxTB6mQBg

[politicus]

The result of this fascinating election was as follows:

Candidates Term (years)
BAKER, Diane 4
BAKER, Edric 4
BURGESS, Paul David Mitchell 4
BYRNE, Peter Gabriel Paul 4
COURTNEY, Elsie Grace 4
GOLDS, Colin Matthew 4
MAITLAND, Charles Noel Donald 4
MOLONEY, Nicolas John Patrick 4
NIGHTINGALE, Christopher Robert 2
NORWICH, Elizabeth Jane 4
NORWICH, Roger Peter 4
PLUMMER, Helen Mildred 4
RAYMOND, William George 4
ROLFE, Arthur James 4
TAYLOR, Stephen Treweek 4
VENTRESS, Anthony Granville 2

I expect Crabcake to enlighten us about the significance of the difference in term limits for representatives of varoius factions.

[🦀🎂🦀🎂]

Better, Kevin Delaney, the Barclay's "man" on the island can tell us:

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So still awaiting the Sark Spring, unfortunately.

[YL]

Better, Kevin Delaney, the Barclay's "man" on the island can tell us:

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So still awaiting the Sark Spring, unfortunately.

I wonder what drove the Barclays to move to Brecqhou in the first place?

[🦀🎂🦀🎂]

Wow YL that seems highly judgemental! I'm sure the Barclays were taken in by the lovely view and wonderful locals, and the fact that it was advertised as having "tax-free status" is completely coincidental!!!

It is worth noting that the Barclays sudden enthusiasm for democracy only occurred after trying every other tactic to avoid paying £20,000 of annual property tax (which seems ridiculously small potatoes for the Barclays, but whatevs). First was secession, then an attempt to get the Pleas to sign a "memorandum of understanding" officially designating Brecqhou as tax-free and when all else failed democracy.* After even that failed, they attempted to literally buy the feudal lease and title.

It does seem Delaney has taken his role a bit too seriously and the fact that he's chugging on even when the Brothers themselves seem intent of washing their hands of the island suggest he has gone off the deep end.


*In fact, to show how serious they took it they released a manifesto which included a railway and a helipad. This went down a treat in an island where planes are banned from flying near and is officially designated a Dark Sky Community..

[Vega]

I'm all for getting rid of the dumb anachronistic nonsense surrounding Sark. It sounds like the perfect place to deport political prisoners, socially harmful elements, ethnic minorities and the like.

[World politics is up Schmitt creek]

I'm all for getting rid of the dumb anachronistic nonsense surrounding Sark.

Well yes you'd think so but the Barclays and their lackeys seem even worse in about every conceivable respect.

[Vega]

I'm all for getting rid of the dumb anachronistic nonsense surrounding Sark.

Well yes you'd think so but the Barclays and their lackeys seem even worse in about every conceivable respect.

Perhaps, I don't really care all that much either way.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

BRING BACK FEUDALISM!