Guernsey Announces 'Productive' UK Meetings

by Jason Gorringe, Tax-News.com, London

28 September 2010

Guernsey Chief Minister Lyndon Trott met Crown Dependencies and Constitution Minister Lord McNally recently to discuss a number of issues of mutual interest to the Guernsey and UK governments, as well as discussing the Minister’s upcoming trip to the Bailiwick.

Trott said after his meeting that: "The Minister and I discussed the leadership position Guernsey has taken as a transparent well-regulated low tax jurisdiction and financial centre, and how this differentiates us from, so called ‘tax havens’. It was an extremely constructive meeting."

Trott also briefed influential House of Commons Justice and Constitutional Affairs Select Committee Chairman, Sir Alan Beith. "I am delighted that both of these extremely influential politicians recognise Guernsey as a government they can work with, and that they recognise and support the steps we have taken to get ourselves into the international premier league on transparency."

On September 21, at the Liberal Democrat Conference, the Chief Minister met Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg's chief policy and parliamentary adviser, Norman Lamb. Lamb's brief covers economic and political issues, and as part of the briefing, the Chief Minister updated Lamb on Guernsey's economy, and on issues relating to Low Value Consignment Relief (which allows goods imported in the UK from the Channel Islands, with low value, exemption from lengthy customs obligations and value-added tax). The Chief Minister also met Lorely Burt, who chairs the Liberal Democrat Business Group, to discuss Guernsey's business links with the UK.

"These were extremely constructive meetings with important figures in the coalition government. Being at the conference affords good opportunities to press Guernsey's case. It's also a chance to make important new contacts; for example I also met Chief Secretary (to the Treasury) Danny Alexander briefly. He welcomed Guernsey's presence at the conference, and I was able to offer him our assistance on matters of mutual interest in the future."

Before returning to Guernsey, the Chief Minister stopped off in London to attend the City of London Annual Dinner, as a guest of the Lord Mayor of the City of London, Alderman Nick Anstee, who visited Guernsey in July. The Mansion House dinner, held to discuss regulatory developments in the wake of the global financial crisis, was an opportunity for the Chief Minister to emphasize the significant positive contribution Guernsey makes to the City of London, and ultimately to the UK economy as a whole, to many influential figures, including City business leaders, politicians and officials.

“Guernsey can be rightly proud to have been invited to this significant event, and it is clearly an endorsement of Guernsey’s role in international finance,” Trott concluded.

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