Alderney States members vote for a pay rise of 83%

After two hours of impassioned debate, the island’s 10 politicians voted by five votes to four, with one abstention, to support the rise, which they themselves had already accelerated from an independent review of their pay.

Ordinary members are currently paid £12,240 a year, and committee chairs £14,460.

This will now rise next year to £17,500 and £20,000, and then in 2027 to £22,500 and £25,000 respectively, about 10% ahead of the increases that were suggested in the review from retired Guernsey States lawyer Martin Thornton, which would have been phased in over three years rather than two.

Steve Roberts, who voted against the proposition, described that giving themselves such a substantial pay rise from the island’s meagre reserves when they really couldn’t afford it was a ‘nice little earner for ourselves’.

‘No turkey for Tiny Tim this year in Alderney, unless his dad gets a job on the States,’ he said.

This will be the first pay rise for members since 2008 and a number of the island’s politicians argued that the uplift was necessary to attract younger candidates to the Assembly in the future.

‘The issue is about removing barriers that prevent a more diverse and representative range of people coming to represent Alderney,’ said Veronica Taylor.

Kevin Gentle led an amendment to return the pay proposal to Mr Thornton’s original suggestion.

This led to a tied vote which fell on the casting vote of States President William Tate, who said it was a situation he had hoped to avoid.

‘I have taken the view in the last six and a half years that I would not interfere with a policy issue,’ he said.

‘My view is that for a proposition to pass, it has to command a majority of the members, and if it cannot command that majority, then it fails.’

However, an amendment by Alex Snowdon was accepted, which will see pay capped for the island’s two representatives who are paid to sit in the Guernsey Assembly.

The amendment, which was passed unanimously, will see them paid at the current rate plus RPI.

Mr Snowdon and fellow representative Edward Hill are entitled to receive some £26,000 for their Guernsey service if they are members of a principal committee, or £15,000 without it.

How they voted

... on the proposal to increase the pay of Alderney States members from 2026.

For: Jeannie Cameron, Stuart Clark, Edward Hill, Iain MacFarlane, Veronica Taylor. (5)

Against: Kevin Gentle, Steve Roberts, Derwent Smithurst, Alex Snowdon. (4)

Abstained: Bill Abel.