Four and a half centuries of feudalism were brought to an end yesterday when the Privy Council approved changes to the laws governing Sark, in the Channel Islands, which will introduce universal suffrage to the island.

The Privy Council’s decision enables Sark’s judiciary and parliament to be significantly modernised.

Sark, which lies 80 miles off the south coast of England, has been governed by a mix of landowners and elected people’s deputies since it was settled in the 1600s.

The island’s parliament, the Chief Pleas, has already approved new laws to introduce a 28-member elected chamber after a recent referendum in which islanders voted for democracy. These proposals were formally approved by the Privy Council.

The new set-up is intended to replace the system of 40 landowners or tenants and 12 elected deputies.

The move comes after pressure was put on Sark to change its feudal system to comply with European human rights laws and other international obligations.

The self-sufficient, car-free island is three miles long and 1½ miles wide (5 by 2.4km). The only forms of transport permitted are horse-drawn vehicles, bicycles, tractors and battery-powered buggies.

The presiding officer of the Chief Pleas, Lieutenant-Colonel Reginald Guille, the Seneschal of Sark, said that yesterday’s decision marked a “momentous day” for the people of Sark. The changes would help to bring the island’s judiciary and government in line with the 21st century, he said.

Universal suffrage will finally be bestowed on the island’s population, with every islander resident for more than a year now entitled to vote in Sark’s elections.

Lieutenant-Colonel Guille said: “These moves are intended to be a step away from a feudalist system but at the same time still keep some aspects of that system in place. It will see huge changes to our judiciary and government, making both more modern.”

Lieutenant-Colonel Guille described life on the island as idyllic, adding: “It’s a very quiet and peaceful place, we are a self-sufficient, close-knit little community and we just like to get on with life away from the public eye.”

He said he believed that the island’s original settlers in the 16th century would be “quite pleased” with the changes. All of Sark’s original 40 colonising families were able to vote in the island’s elections. Lieutenant-Colonel Guille added: “That was an extremely democratic thing to do and very democratic for that age.”

A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Justice said: “We can confirm that the Reform (Sark) Law 2008 and the Real Property (Transfer Tax, Charging and Related Provisions) (Sark) Law 2007 were given Royal Assent by Her Majesty in Council today.It is now for Sark to implement the new legislation and to continue its process of constitutional reform.”

Sark's secrets

— Sark has 600 inhabitants

— There is no airstrip and tractors are the only motorised vehicles allowed on the island. Passengers and goods arriving by ferry from Guernsey are transported from the wharf by tractor-pulled vehicles

— Sark was occupied by German forces during the Second World War and many islanders were deported to Germany

— In 1991, Andre Gardes, an unemployed French nuclear physicist, attempted an invasion of the island, armed with a semi-automatic weapon. He was arrested by the island’s police officer while sitting on a bench, changing the gun’s magazine

Sources: www.sark.info, Times database

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