The United Kingdom appointed on Monday, March 14, Alison Mary Blake as the new governor of the Falkland Islands. He will replace Nigel Phillips.

“Alison Blake has been appointed Governor of the Falkland Islands and Her Majesty’s Commissioner for South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands in succession to Nigel Phillips. Blake will take up his post during July 2022,” the British government said in a brief statement.

Just over two weeks before the 40th anniversary of the Falklands War that began on April 2, 1982, the United Kingdom replaces Nigel Phillips who served as governor since September 2017. However, he will continue in office until July of this year, when Blake will finally take office.

The career of Alison Mary Blake

The diplomat served in various areas of the British government, the last two being British ambassadors in Kabul, Afghanistan.

She studied ancient and modern history and then worked as an archaeologist for the Museum of London, English Heritage, and the Greater London Council between 1983 and 1987. He then spent six years in the Ministry of Defence.

Years later, he participated in the UNITED KINGDOM delegation to NATO from 1996 to 1999. Then, she was the first political secretary at the Washington embassy.

In 2007 she became head of the Conflict Group at the Ministry of Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs. From 2011 to 2014 she was Deputy High Commissioner in Pakistan and then in Bangladesh from 2016 to 2019. Finally, from 2019 to 2021 she served as British ambassador to Kabul, Afghanistan.

What role does the governor of the Falkland Islands play?

The governor is appointed by the Queen of England after being proposed by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in the United Kingdom.

“According to the Constitution, the governor has the authority of the Queen. However, the governor normally only acts on the advice of the (local) Executive Council. With the advice of the Executive Council, the governor has the power to convene that council, dissolve the Legislative Assembly, call a general election and give royal sanction to the laws,” states the official site of the British government in the islands.

“Following the advice of the Advisory Committee, the governor will be able to grant pardons to people convicted of any crime, as well as commute any sentence of any person convicted on the islands,” he adds.

In that line, they also reported that the governor is responsible for the defense and internal security of the Falklands. However, he is obliged by the Constitution to consult with the commander of British forces on this matter.