Turks & Caicos’ E.J Saunders part of Election Observer team in UK on July 4

Danae Dennie

Intern

#TurksandCaicos, July 19, 2024 – Hon. E. J Saunders recently participated in the July 4 UK General Elections as part of the Commonwealth Observers and he will submit a report on his observations.

The mission of this initiative was to ensure that the information given in a report from the observers will inform future electoral development in the UK and jurisdictions of Commonwealth Observers. It is also hoped that the observers will have an increased understanding of the Electoral practices in the UK.

There were observers from England, France, Australia and the Seychelles.

When asked about his experience as an observer Hon. Saunders, who is an All Island elected member of the Turks and Caicos House of Assembly said, “I’m happy that I’ve had the opportunity to be part of this process and to have my recommendations added to the final report. To know that TCI’s feedback and recommendations will help to help strengthen the electoral process in the UK is significant. It’s usually the other way around.”

Hon. Saunders, a former deputy premier and former finance minister was able to be in the room when the results came in for what is now regarded as an historic political shift in the UK.

The Labour Party won the election, ending 14 years of Conservative rule. It was a landslide victory which made Kier Starmer the new Prime Minister; his party secured 412 of 650 seats in the House of Commons.

In comparison to the electoral process in the TCI, Hon. Saunders said “In some ways, I’m very impressed. In other ways I have a newfound appreciation for our electoral process at home.”