Since 1993 the island has been owned by David and Frederick Barclay, who are better known as co-owners of the newspaper, The Scotsman. Since the purchase the Barclays have been in several legal disputes with the government of Sark, and have expressed a desire to make Brecqhou politically independent from Sark.
The Barclays have devised a flag for the island (identical to the Sark flag, with the exception that the Barclay arms are emblazoned on the bottom right), and have issued postage stamps annually since 1999.
A previous tenant of Brecqhou, Leonard Joseph Matchan, had issued stamps in 1969. Matchan occupied Brecqhou until his death on October 6, 1987.
See also: List of tenants of Brecqhou