On 9 April 2008 the Privy Council approved the Sark law reforms,[4] and the new chamber convened for the first time on 21 January 2009.

In total, 28 Conseillers were to be elected via plurality block voting from 57 candidates, with the latter figure representing about 12% of the electorate in the island.

[10] The overwhelming majority of candidates who were elected had either previously voted in Chief Pleas to enact the 2008 Reform Law, or had made public statements in support of it, and since advocated the further dismantling of the feudal system via the reform of the ancient feudal land tenure laws.

[13] When it became apparent that only about five candidates they had supported had been elected, the Barclay brothers announced that they were shutting down their businesses on Sark – hotels, shops, estate agents and building firms – leaving about 100 people, or a sixth of the population, out of work.

"[17] The States of Jersey, sitting in session on 12 December 2008, resolved to send a message of support to its sister island of Sark.