UK Appoints New Minister For The Channel Islands

by Jason Gorringe, Tax-News.com, London

12 August 2002

Speaking during her first visit to Guernsey, the UK's new Minister with responsibility for the Channel Islands, Rosie Winterton, hinted that the British government will give the Islands a free rein with regard to their financial services sectors...up to a point.

The Guernsey Press and Star quoted the new Minister and Doncaster MP as observing that: 'The UK respects, of course, the fact that Guernsey makes its own domestic policy. But there are as well, of course, areas where we would wish to be working together and I think that that is something that is well understood on both sides of the equation, if you like.'

She continued: 'I think the Labour government is keen to work with the States to make sure our mutual interest in the financial sector is reflected in the discussions that we are having and in any changes that can be made.'

Ms Winterton, who replaced Michael Willis, spent much of her visit to Guernsey last week in discussion with senior Island officials, according the the Guernsey Press. She praised Guernsey's government for its cooperation in various recent financial disputes, announcing that:

'Today (Wednesday) was a very good opportunity for me to be able to say the UK Treasury had felt that discussions recently on a number of issues on the financial front had actually been very constructive...I was very pleased to be able to pass on those comments and impressions.'

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