Outgoing French consul says Brexit 'only bad'

BBC
·1-min read
Christopher Scholefield being interviewed in a park
Christopher Scholefield was the honorary French consul in Jersey for the last six years [BBC]

The outgoing French consul for Jersey says there has been "no good element" of Brexit for the island.

Christopher Scholefield, who held the role for the last six years, officially handed the title over to Pierre Chays on Wednesday evening.

He told the BBC one of the challenges he had faced during his time was Brexit, when the UK voted to leave the European Union.

He said: "There is no good thing about Brexit for Jersey at all, it is only bad.

"Whether it's to do with the export of our fish products or our tourism industry - people find it harder to come here now - there is only bad, there is no good element to Brexit.

"It is bad, bad, bad."

The official handover of the consul role took place at Agence Consulaire de France à Jersey in Halkett Place, St Helier.

Mr Scholefield said the French community would be "very well looked after" by Mr Chays who said it was "an honour, a privilege and a pleasure" to be given the role.

The duties of the honorary French consul, which is an unpaid position, are focussed on supporting French citizens living in Jersey and those visiting the island.

Mr Chays said he would work on strengthening the relationship between France and Jersey and that he wanted to help the French language to "prosper".

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