Barclays lose Sark reforms claim

by GD Tue 01 Dec 2009, 11:20 am

The Supreme Court has unanimously dismissed an appeal case by the Barclay brothers who wanted to force a change to constitutional reforms on Sark.
Sir David and Frederick Barclay argued reforms did not go far enough because two of the members of the island's government were not elected.
The ruling said the offices of seigneur and seneschal were not contrary to the European Convention on Human Rights.
The 28 elected conseillers replaced 450 years of feudal rule in the island.
The Barclays, proprietors of the Daily Telegraph, live on the nearby island of Brecqhou and own land on Sark, which has a population of about 600.
They argued Sark's new constitution and the dual role of the seneschal did not meet the modern standards set by European and UK human rights laws with regard to elections.
When their case reached the Court of Appeal, judges refused to declare the Reform (Sark) Law 2008 "incompatible" with the ECHR on the grounds that it did not meet the human rights requirements of free and fair elections.
The pair decided to take their battle to the House of Lords, but their challenge was unanimously dismissed by five justices. (from BBC)

What a shame..lol