There is an irony in the fact that, as Lord President of the Privy Council, #JacobReesMogg of all people will hopefully soon be advising the Queen to make an amendment to the #Falklands constitution that our MLAs requested to let them take part in Legislative Assembly remotely!
The #FalklandIslands Constitution is an Order in Council under the British Settlements Acts - formally, it is made by the Queen on the advice of her Privy Council, of which #JacobReesMogg is the Lord President - a decision was taken here on 6 April to request an amendment ...
The #FalklandIslands Constitution contains a quorum for the Legislative Assembly in the #Falklands that could not be met in the early stages of the #COVID19 situation - some MLAs were isolating because of age or health - others had go into isolation when they showed symptoms ...
MLAs could still do some of their work and Executive Council could still make decisions, but Legislative Assembly could not formally meet to pass legislation and legislation was needed to deal with financial matters and some aspects of the #COVID19 situation ...
So, ExCo agreed to ask for a temporary amendment to the #FalklandIslands Constitution to allow the members of the Assembly to agree that the means of communication in use are sufficient for the sitting of the Assembly to proceed and to allow for remote voting ...
The twist in the tale is that the #Falklands seem to have dodged the worst of #COVID19 (hope that doesn't tempt fate!) and restrictions were eased to allow LegAssy to meet with a quorum on 14 May - it meets again on Tuesday for the Governor's Speech and the Budget ...
Hopefully, I haven't tempted fate and the amendment *won't* be needed, but I did ask about progress on a local FB group and MLA @stacybfk said "Hi Ronnie, our request is due to be considered next month where hopefully it will be approved." ...
So, that is how it comes about that #JacobReesMogg could have to advise the Queen to allow remote voting in the #Falklands Legislative Assembly!
Footnote: links to docs on the @falklandsgov website don't work on Twitter (or FB), but (for anyone interested - ???) I have uploaded a copy of the ExCo paper to Google Drive:
drive.google.com/file/d/1pWLd0B…
drive.google.com/file/d/1pWLd0B…
PS The ExCo paper asks the Governor to ask the Secretary of State to make the amendment by Order in Council - I suppose this reflects the efficient reality that the @foreignoffice will be sponsoring the amendment rather than the dignified formality that the Queen will make it!
@threadreaderapp - unroll, please!
