Going into Thursday’s parliamentary elections in the United Kingdom, most forecasts predicted a dead heat between the Labour Party and the Conservative Party, which would have likely resulted in a coalition government between one of those major players and a smaller party.
Those forecasts were wrong.
David Cameron’s Conservatives gained a resounding victory, taking 331 of the 650 seats on their way to taking control of the government.
Labour secured 232 seats, the Scottish National Party took 56, and the Liberal Democrats – which were previously in a coalition with the Conservatives – retained only eight seats.
The results are likely to mean less pressure on the Virgin Islands to establish a public registry of beneficial ownership.
Former Labour leader Ed Miliband – who stepped down as party leader after the election – had said he would force overseas territories to implement such registries under his government, but Mr. Cameron, the prime minister, said he will encourage but not force the OTs to do so.
The VI’s financial services industry has largely opposed the register.
See the May 14, 2015 edition for full coverage.