London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Tuesday, Sep 29, 2026

UK bill proposes elected MPs to represent Overseas Territories in UK parliament

UK bill proposes elected MPs to represent Overseas Territories in UK parliament

The [British] Virgin Islands could find itself being represented in the United Kingdom (UK) parliament, the House of Commons, by its own elected Member of Parliament (MP) if a bill proposed by a group of MPs in the UK is passed.

The draft legislation, which is entitled Representation of the People, Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories Bill, was submitted to the UK Prime Minister Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson aka ‘Boris’ earlier this year and if passed by the UK Parliament would see a total of nine MPs from the Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies being sent to sit in the House of Commons.

The bill was drafted by UK MPs John d. Penrose and Andrew R. Rosindell as well as a member of the Friends of the British Overseas Territories (FOTBOT) and former member of the States of Guernsey, Anthony Webber, who have been pushing the UK Parliament to give a voice to the Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies who currently have no official representation in parliament which has ultimate power to legislate on their behalf, sometimes against their will.


The bill was drafted by UK MPs John d. Penrose, left, and Andrew R. Rosindell, centre, as well as a member of the Friends of the British Overseas Territories (FOTBOT) and former member of the States of Guernsey, Anthony Webber, right.

Follow examples of France & Denmark- Webber to UK


Mr Webber has called for the UK to follow the example of countries such as France and Denmark, which allow members from their overseas dependent territories, even the most far flung, to sit in their national parliaments.

Mr Webber told Express.co.uk in February that "The UK is the only country in the world which does not provide UK Parliamentary representation for its dependent territories."

He also suggested that legislation could be passed to bring his proposals into effect before the next UK general election.

Six MPs for OTs proposed


The proposed bill calls for six MPs from the Overseas Territories, one for Gibraltar, including the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia, and the British Indian Ocean Territory; one for St Helena and the Falkland Islands, including the UK’s southern Atlantic islands and Pitcairn in the Pacific and one for the [British] Virgin Islands, Anguilla and Montserrat; a single MP for the Cayman Islands, another for the Turks and Caicos Islands and one MP to represent Bermuda.

The proposal also calls for three MPs to represent the Crown Dependency islands of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man respectively, bringing a grand total of 9 MPs for the Territories and Crown Dependencies.


The bill states that each of the 9 territories will be considered as a UK constituency and eligible voters from each island will vote for their MP at the same time of a UK general election, with the cost of the elections to be covered by the UK which would also pay for the salaries of the nine MPs.

Elections of MPs will coincide with UK elections


The bill states that each of the 9 territories will be considered as a UK constituency and eligible voters from each island will vote for their MP at the same time of a UK general election, with the cost of the elections to be covered by the UK which would also pay for the salaries of the nine MPs.

Proponents of this bill stress that each of the MPS would have the same voting rights in the House of Commons just as any other British MP and that the election of these new MPs would not interfere with the current relationship between the UK and its Territories who would see no change to their constitutional status.

One stipulation in the proposed bill that could spark debate is who can vote for an MP to Westminster.

The Bill allows for any British or Commonwealth Citizen residing in the overseas territories the right to run for the office of MP to Westminster.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Metropolitan Police Rule Out Terrorism in Golders Green Stabbing Investigation
Lithium-Ion Battery Identified as Cause of Fatal Merseyside House Fire
UK Department Rejects New Sea Use Framework Due to Stakeholder Fatigue
Major Thames Water Pipe Burst Causes School Closures in London
Aldi Commits £900 Million to Expand UK Supermarket Network
Scottish Affairs Committee Warns Skills Shortages Threaten Defence Sector Expansion
Parliamentary Committee Warns Northern Ireland Budget Deadlock is Stalling Economic Growth
NHS Hospitals in England Face Severe Shortages of Essential Medications
Home Secretary Signals Major Overhaul of UK Immigration and Leave to Remain Policies
Chancellor Promises New Job Schemes Alongside Strict Fiscal Discipline
Energy Secretary Proposes Taxpayer-Funded Green Transition and National Electricity Grid
UK Government to Renationalise Avanti West Coast Railway Franchise in March
Prime Minister Andy Burnham Pledges Major Social Care and Infrastructure Reforms
Five Suspects Released on Bail Following Alleged Bomb Plot Near RAF Fairford
UK Diesel Prices Hit Record High of 199p Per Litre
Transport for Wales and Network Rail Complete Electrification of South Wales Metro
Defra Expands Incentives for Sustainable Farming and Biodiversity in England
Northern Ireland Executive Approves Funding Package to Resolve Public Sector Pay Disputes
Universities UK Warns of Financial Insolvency Risks for Higher Education Institutions
UK Prisons Activate Emergency Protocols to Manage Capacity Pressures
UK Government Establishes New Safety Standards for Frontier AI Models
Home Office Tightens Skilled Worker Visa Requirements and Dependent Rules
Ministry of Defence Restructures Royal Navy Frigate Procurement to Prevent Overruns
UK Government Mandates New Housing Targets to Address National Shortage
UK and Scottish Governments Reach Agreement on North Sea Energy Transition
NHS Launches Digital Overhaul to Reduce Surgical Backlogs in England
Bank of England Holds Interest Rates as Service Sector Inflation Persists
UK Chancellor Announces Fiscal Consolidation Measures to Stabilize National Debt
RNLI Chief Executive Condemns Misinformation and Abuse Targeting Volunteer Crews
Metropolitan Police Charge Swindon Man with Assisting Foreign Intelligence Services
British Intelligence Report Warns Environmental Collapse Threatens Global Defense Infrastructure
Conservative Party Rejects New Taxes to Fund UK Social Care Reforms
Labour Government Signals Intent to Ease Residency Restrictions for Foreign Care Workers
Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Støre Meet to Strengthen North Atlantic Defense
UK Government Plans to Revive Equity Loan Scheme to Assist First-Time Home Buyers
Prime Minister Andy Burnham Pledges Radical Reform for UK Utilities and Social Care
UK Treasury Prepares Difficult Autumn Budget Amid High Debt and Energy Volatility
Civil Aviation Authority Launches Review of Air Traffic Systems Following Digital Failure
X Reports First Increase in UK Revenues Following Advertiser Boycott
Shetland Islands Council Approves £400 Million Inter-Island Tunnel Project
Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband Warns Iran Against Hostile Activities on British Soil
UK Ministers Concede Chagos Islands Sovereignty Agreement Terminated After US Opposition
More in Common Poll Projects Hung Parliament with Labour Leading and Reform UK Gains
Prime Minister Andy Burnham Defends Economic Strategy as Public Finances Face Headwinds
Tony Blair Urges Government to Set Long-Term Goal of Rejoining the European Union
Prime Minister Andy Burnham Pledges Universal Free Social Care Funded Through General Taxation
UK Diesel and Petrol Prices Surge Near All-Time Highs Amid Middle East Energy Volatility
Analysis of Reform UK conference highlights deep political divisions over welfare and immigration
Bangladesh garment exports to the United Kingdom reach $915 million in early fiscal year
Royal Navy begins sea trials for new HMS Agamemnon hunter-killer submarine
×