John Hemming raises the governance of Jersey in the Commons

On Tuesday John Hemming (Lib Dem MP for Birmingham Yardley) used a House of Commons backbench debate to raise his concerns about the governance of Jersey:

There is a country where there are allegations that crimes by powerful people are not being investigated and prosecuted. A journalist has been refused entry to stop reporting about an issue. The chief of police has been suspended to stop him investigating crimes. Bloggers are being threatened to stop them talking about people. Decisions by the state not to prosecute cannot be challenged, nor is private prosecution allowed. 

The country is Jersey. The journalist is Leah McGrath Goodman, who is an American. The chief of police was Graham Power. 

You can read more about Leah McGrath Goodman on her own website.

John went on to suggest that a number of people had:

with the assistance of the Jersey Government, obtained a super-injunction against ex-Senator Stuart Syvret - under the Data Protection Act of all things - to prevent from him saying things about them on his blog that are true. Mr Syvret has evidence that criminal offences are being swept under the carpet, but nothing is being done.

John also alleged conflicts of interest in two recent court cases on the island.

He continued:

The end result in Jersey is that part of these events has been struck from the state’s version of Hansard, and the culture of cover-up continues. Jersey is an independent country, but the UK Government have a responsibility for ensuring good governance in Jersey. The UK is not doing its job properly.

John's whole speech is worth reading. He suggests that the secretive nature of Britain's family courts is beginning to worry overseas governments.

Thanks to Rico Sorda.