Tory MP Tells Guernsey To Steer Clear Of European Integration

Robert Lee, Tax-news.com, London

19 October 2000

Eurosceptic and scaremonger Teresa Gorman has been in Guernsey this week, rallying the island's politicians and business leaders to fight or else be "dragged into the EU". The Tory MP, a staunch advocate of keeping the UK well and truly on its side of the English Channel, Mrs Gorman was in Guernsey to deliver a Lloyds TSB lecture.

Mrs Gorman said that Guernsey must join the UK's fight against European integration or face interference in its own government. She said: 'If the UK is absorbed it will be very difficult for you to protect yourself from sanctions.
It’s naive to think the special way of life you enjoy will remain untouched from such an undemocratic form of government [as the EU]. You can’t hide your heads in the sand and hope that it will go away. It won’t. You live in paradise. I don’t want to see paradise lost.'

In lusty form, the MP continued: 'There’s no reason to go for half-measures. We could hold a referendum on renouncing the [membership] treaty. One government can’t hold subsequent administrations to decisions they made forever. But once we’re inside the opportunity will be lost forever. It would be almost impossible to get out if our financial reserves are integrated with those of the EU.'

Teresa Gorman was sceptical that an independent Guernsey would not eventually be sucked into a federal Europe, saying: 'I'd have thought you might have to go the whole hog and separate completely. But you could find yourself like the West Indies, which is independent of the USA but subject to its massive will.'

Mrs Gorman indicated that the possibility of increased political intervention by the EU spelt danger for the Crown Dependencies financial services business. Warning that the reputation of Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man as financial centres could be threatened, she said: 'Your financial probity is first class and, unlike some territories, there’s no suspicion of involvement in money laundering. But there’s no doubt that the mood of the OECD and the new Financial Action Task Force is building up pressure on tax efficient economies such as Guernsey. They would like to bring Guernsey into the EU tax net. I don’t want to frighten the children but you’re in the sights of the OECD.'

Tory leader William Hague doesn't have many allies, but he's found one in Mrs Gorman. They are certainly singing from the same hymn sheet - like an echo, Mrs Gorman told the Guernsey luncheon: 'The sceptical view is now the majority and I support moves in that direction by William Hague and his view of being in Europe but not ruled by Europe.' Mrs Gorman said that the EU monolith was undemocratic and driven by unelected quangos. She added: 'There’s also a high level of corruption that is alien to the British way of political life, which is generally honest. You should look to countries such as Switzerland, which is fireproof from the EU, and Norway that is outside and doing brilliantly. If the UK were to be absorbed then clearly Guernsey’s position as a tax haven would feature more prominently.'

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