‘P&R resignations fear helped defeat fairer alternative’
THE longest-serving deputy thinks the fear of resignations may have helped defeat the ‘fairer alternative’ tax plan at last week’s States meeting.
John Gollop said that some of his colleagues were concerned that voting for Deputy Heidi Soulsby’s alternative scheme would lead to resignations from Policy & Resources.
‘I always vote for amendments based on content and outcome, but I know some members were speculative that a big vote for the fairer alternative model would have been seen as a vote of no confidence in P&R and prompted resignations,’ said Deputy Gollop.
‘As I said in my key speech, I didn’t want that. I have confidence in P&R president Deputy Peter Ferbrache and his team.’
Deputy Gollop said he could vote for a revised version of the self-styled fairer alternative which Deputy Soulsby and her supporters have drafted ahead of the States’ tax debate resuming in two weeks’ time.
‘I’m interested in possibly supporting a mark two fairer alternative. As you know, I nearly supported version one.
‘Some tax-raising ideas of the alternative model appealed to me, as did the corporate tax investigation work, as long as it didn’t kill business or growth. The bond idea was good too.
‘I am less keen on any extra taxation focused on tourism at this time. I did not like the crude approach to cuts either.’
Deputy Gollop encouraged authors of the fairer alternative to be more radical in some of their tax plans, but to drop their idea of setting up new committees to review future tax and spending policies.
Those behind the fairer alternative would need to change the votes of five deputies to secure a majority in favour of a revised version of their plan.
Deputy Gollop said he remained committed to pushing ahead with his amendments to exclude food and charities from GST.
