Va-PoReg Country Report Anguilla 1900–2025

Anguilla was first colonized by English settlers from Saint Kitts beginning in 1650.¹ During the colonial period, Anguilla was administered by the British through Antigua. In 1825, it was replaced under the administrative control of nearby Saint Kitts and Nevis as crown colony.² This was also the case on our start date of 01/01/1900.

On 02/27/1967, British authorities definitively stroke Anguilla to Saint Kitts-Nevis and granted the territory the status of an „associated state”, with its own constitution and a considerable degree of self-government. But many Anguillans objected to the continuing political subservience to Saint Kitts².

As a reaction insurgents expelled the Saint Kitts police and installed a „Peace-keeping Committee” as the government on 05/30/1967. The provisional government under Ronald Webster unilaterally seceded Anguilla from St. Kitts-Nevis on 06/16/1967.³ The provisional government requested United States administration, which was declined.² The provisional government had this actuated by a referendum on 07/11/1967, that was approved by 99,72% of voters. The following day the separation was declared and an independent republic proclaimed, thus known as Anguillan Revolution. The ultimate goal of the Anguillan Revolution was not independence per se, but rather independence from Saint Kitts and Nevis and a return to being a British colony.¹ The new government under Ronald Webster was not recognized by either St. Kitts-Nevis or Great Britain, which was reluctant to interfere in the internal politics of Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla.⁴ On 02/06/1969 a constitutional referendum was held.⁵ The republican constitution was put forward and approved by 99.71% of voters. On 03/11/1969, the British government sent William Whitlock, a junior minister, as a diplomatic envoy to Anguilla in an effort to resolve the conflict and establish an interim British administration. Whitlock’s proposal was rejected in part because of his treatment of the local Anguillans. British troops returned to occupy the island on 03/19/1969.⁶

British authority was restored on 03/19/1969 and Anthony Lee was installed as Her Majesty’s Commissioner.² British paratroopers stayed on the island until 09/14/1969 to maintain security. Eventually, the islanders were content with the political situation and no more civil strife took place following the operation.⁶

The restoration of authority was confirmed by the Anguilla Act on 07/10/1971 and placed Anguilla directly under British control.⁷

On this date, Anguilla was granted a constitution and was finally allowed to formally secede from Saint Kitts and Nevis and become a standalone UK Dependent Territory, following the Anguilla Act. Anguilla operates as an electoral democracy within the framework of the British parliamentary system. Since 2002 Anguilla is a British overseas territory. ¹ Universal suffrage is granted to all those aged above 18. Anguilla has a unicameral legislative branch (the House of Assembly). Fair and free elections are held in regular five-year intervals. The judiciary operates independently from the rest of the governing institutions and the British Crown remains the de jure chief of state.⁸ On 06/29/2020 general elections were held and won by the Anguilla progressive movement, that secured seven seats while the Anguilla United Front won four seats. This is a significant change to the precedent election in 2015, where the AUF won six out of seven seats, only losing one district to an independent candidate (Commonwealth Parliamentary Association 2020). In the general elections on 02/26/2025, the dynamics changed again. The AUF won eight of the eleven contested seats, defeating the incumbent APM. Following the result, AUF leader Cora Richardson-Hodge made history by being sworn in as Anguilla’s first female premier.⁹ This indicates a competitive political landscape with peaceful transitions of power. FH, LIED and V-Dem do not provide data for Anguilla. Based on our observations multiparty, executive, legislative elections are present during this period.

(Monarchical) Liberal Democracy as of 07/01/2025 continued.