In case you haven't been following - and you probably haven't, because why would you? - a huge diplomatic kerfuffle is flaring up in the English channel. Among the various post-Brexit arguments between the EU and the UK, Jersey (which is not technically part of the UK, but that's a whole different ball of legal wax) recently issued their annual fishing licenses to French fishermen looking to collect in Jersey's waters. Some were shocked to find that, while they had been expected to fish around Jersey for 40 days this year, they were only granted permission for 11!
Jersey's waters being rich in shellfish, this would not stand. France hinted at shutting off the island's power (which comes from underwater cable from the mainland; like all the Channel Islands, Jersey is owned by the queen, but is snuggled right up against the French coast). Then they put together a fleet and threatened to blockade Jersey's ports if the island didn't back down. So BoJo is sending two warships to the island to keep its ports open.
Like the other Channel Islands, Jersey is a remnant of the old Duchy of Normandy. When the English finally lost all their continental possessions in France, they never gave up the Islands. So they developed into what are called "Crown Dependencies." Technically, they are self-governing possessions of the Crown, but they are not internationally recognized as sovereign states. The UK is responsible for their foreign policy and defense, and the UK Parliament reserves the right to pass legislation pertaining to them, but for the most part, they tend to their own affairs. In fact, legally, Brexit didn't affect them, because they have never been a part of the EU. They have their own cultures and languages (descended from French-Norman), and even issue their own stamps and passports.
They are also probably the only independent territories that have the awesome designation of "Bailiwicks." That is to say, they are territories under the authority of a Bailiff. The island of Sark, part of the Bailiwick of Guernsey, is famous for being the last European jurisdiction to give up feudalism, in 2008.
Jersey's waters being rich in shellfish, this would not stand. France hinted at shutting off the island's power (which comes from underwater cable from the mainland; like all the Channel Islands, Jersey is owned by the queen, but is snuggled right up against the French coast). Then they put together a fleet and threatened to blockade Jersey's ports if the island didn't back down. So BoJo is sending two warships to the island to keep its ports open.
Like the other Channel Islands, Jersey is a remnant of the old Duchy of Normandy. When the English finally lost all their continental possessions in France, they never gave up the Islands. So they developed into what are called "Crown Dependencies." Technically, they are self-governing possessions of the Crown, but they are not internationally recognized as sovereign states. The UK is responsible for their foreign policy and defense, and the UK Parliament reserves the right to pass legislation pertaining to them, but for the most part, they tend to their own affairs. In fact, legally, Brexit didn't affect them, because they have never been a part of the EU. They have their own cultures and languages (descended from French-Norman), and even issue their own stamps and passports.
They are also probably the only independent territories that have the awesome designation of "Bailiwicks." That is to say, they are territories under the authority of a Bailiff. The island of Sark, part of the Bailiwick of Guernsey, is famous for being the last European jurisdiction to give up feudalism, in 2008.