Passport to Jersey

Rumblings in the Channel. In Jersey, they are not happy. There are rumours of a threat from Europe to the island's benevolent tax arrangements; the talk is of independence. Down here in the Third Leader Department, we have to confess to a certain indecision on-line.

Rumblings in the Channel. In Jersey, they are not happy. There are rumours of a threat from Europe to the island's benevolent tax arrangements; the talk is of independence. Down here in the Third Leader Department, we have to confess to a certain indecision on-line.

We talk here, after all, of the Crown's oldest holdings, passed down from the Conqueror, last offshore remnants of our Continental empire. The cows are nice, too, and the new potatoes. The island has also provided a ready home for Alan Whicker, Jack Higgins and anyone else with £6m to spare buying a property worth £1.5m-plus. Jersey has given us Graeme Le Saux, and those woolly jumpers.

But. We do remember that they were very sniffy a few years ago about letting that nice chap who plays Bergerac live there. And what sort of independence would the island want? It already has autonomy apart from defence, which shouldn't be a problem, as any invader would have great difficulty getting through all the yachts. And the islanders remain loyal to the Crown.

Perhaps they could invite the Queen to retire there, if she meets the qualifications.