Friends of the British Overseas Territories Parliamentary Declaration

This Parliamentary Declaration has been developed to provide Members of the House of Commons and Members of the House of Lords with a clear and principled opportunity to affirm their support for the British Overseas Territories and the people who call them home. The fourteen Territories are diverse in geography, population and economic structure, yet they share a common constitutional relationship with the United Kingdom and a shared commitment to democratic self-government under the Crown.

In recent years, questions of sovereignty, international representation, environmental protection and constitutional change have once again come to the fore. In that context, it is essential that Parliament speaks with clarity. At the heart of the UK’s relationship with the Overseas Territories lies the principle of self-determination: that their political future can be decided only by the freely expressed and democratic will of their people. This declaration places that principle beyond ambiguity and reaffirms that nothing affecting the Territories should be decided without their meaningful involvement and consent.

By signing the declaration, parliamentarians signal their commitment to defend the sovereignty and security of the Territories unless and until their people decide otherwise, to uphold standards of justice and good governance, and to support responsible environmental stewardship and sustainable economic development. It is intended to strengthen trust between Parliament and the Overseas Territories, and to demonstrate that the United Kingdom remains steadfast in honouring its constitutional responsibilities to all its citizens, wherever they reside.

Declaration

Preamble: Constitutional Responsibility and Partnership
We, the undersigned Members of the House of Commons and Members of the House of Lords, affirm our enduring commitment to the people of all British Overseas Territories and to the constitutional principles that bind them to the United Kingdom. The Overseas Territories are home to proud, self-governing communities whose people are British citizens. They are not possessions of the state but partners within the British family. Their identities, institutions and futures rest upon a constitutional relationship founded on consent, shared values and mutual responsibility.

The principle that nothing about you without you shall guide all policy and decision-making affecting the fourteen British Overseas Territories and their people, ensuring that their voices are central in matters concerning their sovereignty, governance and future.

Self-Determination as the Foundational Principle
At the heart of that relationship stands the principle of self-determination. We affirm that the people of each Overseas Territory possess the inalienable right freely to determine their political status and to pursue their economic, social and cultural development, and that right belongs to them alone. It is not for His Majesty’s Government, for Parliament, or for any external power to override or reinterpret the clearly expressed democratic will of a Territory’s people.

Sovereignty and Constitutional Change
We declare that no change to the sovereignty, constitutional status or international standing of any British Overseas Territory should be contemplated or enacted without the freely given and democratically expressed consent of its people, exercised through lawful and transparent processes. We recognise that sovereignty carries responsibilities. The United Kingdom has a duty to safeguard the territorial integrity, security and stability of the Overseas Territories, and to ensure that their defence and international representation are exercised in a manner that protects their interests and respects their elected governments.

Justice, Rule of Law and Good Governance
We affirm the importance of justice, good governance and the rule of law in every Territory. Strong institutions, accountable government, an independent judiciary and respect for fundamental rights are essential to the wellbeing of their communities. We pledge to support policies that strengthen democratic governance, uphold constitutional safeguards and reinforce public confidence in the administration of justice.

Environmental Stewardship and Climate Responsibility
We recognise the global importance of the Overseas Territories in environmental protection and biodiversity conservation. These Territories are custodians of unique ecosystems, extensive marine environments and significant natural heritage. We commit to supporting their efforts to protect and restore their environments, to address the challenges of climate change and to pursue sustainable development that secures prosperity for future generations.

Economic Security and International Standing
We acknowledge that economic resilience underpins political stability and community wellbeing. We will work to ensure that the Overseas Territories are treated fairly in matters of trade, financial services, security cooperation and international engagement, and that their elected governments are properly consulted in decisions that affect their economies and global relationships.

Parliamentary Commitment
In signing this declaration, we commit ourselves to uphold the principle of self-determination for every British Overseas Territory, to defend their sovereignty unless and until their people decide otherwise, and to act in Parliament in a manner consistent with these principles. We do so in the belief that the United Kingdom’s strength lies in its respect for democratic choice, constitutional integrity and the rights of all its citizens, wherever they reside.

Sign the declaration

This declaration is open to all Members of the House of Commons and Members of the House of Lords who wish to affirm these principles publicly. Parliamentarians who wish to add their name are invited to email declaration@fotbot.org.

Signatories

We extend our sincere thanks to all Members of Parliament and Members of the House of Lords who have signed this declaration, and we are grateful for their clear and public commitment to upholding the rights, sovereignty and democratic future of the British Overseas Territories and their people.

Name Name MP
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Name Name MP
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Name Name MP
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Name Name MP
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We have created shareable social media graphics to promote the declaration campaign, which can be downloaded below.

Shareable Social Media Graphics