LIVE / States: 2027 Budget day three

This amendment, from the Alderney representatives, is to increase the budget for supporting Alderney’s air services by £364,000.

‘We see this as a spend to save so that hopefully there’ll be better forward planning, better resilience, and actually giving confidence back, which will help transfer services, economic development, confidence back in the island,’ says Alex Snowdon.

Deputy St Pier’s move loses 18-19, with one abstention. It was to increase the income limit for an individual before tax allowances start to be withdrawn, from £85,000 proposed by Policy & Resource.

Deputy Marc Leadbeater spoke in support, highlighting Guernsey’s competitiveness with the other Crown Dependencies:

‘The Isle of Man’s average earnings are a little bit below ours. There’s about a 5 or 7% difference. But where it does click in is the house prices and the rental prices because there’s nearly a 50 percent difference. The average house price in Guernsey is over £600k. In the Isle of Man, it’s £325,000. That’s considerably different, but if you look at the rental costs as well, because a lot of these people here earning this money, taking home just under 65 grand if you’re earning 85. Rental costs in Guernsey are more than £650 a month above the average rental cost in the Isle of Man - that’s a 44% difference.’

Deputy David Goy, who voted against the move:

‘Whatever you consider makes someone rich, it doesn’t take away the fact that £85,000 is still approximately twice the median salary in Guernsey. Now, if anyone who says that those who are on £85,000 are having it a hard time, I say to them, spare a thought for more than half of the population, because there are a lot of people who earn less than £85,000, who also struggle and they struggle a lot more.’

To mark Wear a Guernsey Day today, deputies have been permitted to wear their woollen garments* in the chamber today.

But that was not the only dressing down... the Bailiff said she was disappointed that some did not follow her strict instructions to arrive in jackets this morning.

*cotton guernsey are available...

We’re back under way in the budget debate...

Day three of this meeting is beginning with consideration of Amendment 5 from Deputy Gavin St Pier - which he is quick to point out is not a Forward Guernsey amendment.

He wants to increase the income limit for an individual before tax allowances start to be withdrawn, from £85,000 proposed by Policy & Resources to £88,650, which would keep it in line with changes in inflation.