Leader of the Opposition (British Virgin Islands)

Leader of Her Majesty's Most Loyal Opposition
Incumbent
Ronnie Skelton
since 25 April 2023
StyleThe Honourable
Term lengthWhile leader of the largest political party in the House of Assembly that is not in government
Inaugural holderQ.W. Osborne
FormationVirgin Islands Constitution Order, 1967 (Statutory)
Politics of the British Virgin Islands
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The Leader of the Opposition (officially the Leader of Her Majesty's Most Loyal Opposition in the British Virgin Islands) is the leader of the largest political party in the House of Assembly that is not in government.

Under the Constitution the Governor is required to appoint a member of the House of Assembly recommended by a majority of the elected members of the House who are members of any opposition party whose numerical strength in the House is greater than that of any other opposition party, or if no such person exists, the member of the House of Assembly who in the judgement of the Governor is best able to command the support of the members of the House in opposition to the Government.[1]

Prior to the introduction of the current Constitution, which codified the position, the Leader of the Opposition, by convention, led the largest party which is not part of the government: where one party wins outright this is the party leader of the second largest political party in the House of Assembly. However, in 1990 Cyril Romney was appointed Leader of the Opposition as an Independent and in 1995 Walwyn Brewley was appointed despite leading the party with the third largest number of seats. The Leader of the Opposition is normally viewed as an alternative Premier.

On 27 April 2023 Ronnie Skelton was appointed as the most recent leader of the opposition.[2]

  1. ^ Virgin Islands Constitution Order 2007, article 70(2)
  2. ^ "Update: Skelton Sworn In As Opposition Leader". BVI Platinum. 27 April 2023.