It is no surprise to me that some members of this Assembly grandstand on issues and then appear to completely contradict themselves when ‘the rubber hits the road’. I have another post which highlights the forthcoming Requete to essentially bring back that which the Assembly overturned at the start f this term – to whit, no by election to replace just one Deputy loss (led by Deputy Burford).
But the real extent of this Hypocrisy became apparent with the 31 amendments to the 2027 Budget. To comply with an earlier decision of the Assembly to save 1%, P&R brought a binary choice to the table: saving that 1% as earlier agreed OR permitting some £15 million of additional expenditure. Fair enough, but when individual Deputies who were vehemently against raising more funds to maintain the services Islanders have come to expect via GST – and then now ask for substantial funds (via Budget amendments) are in an untenable position (but don’t seem to realise it).
Here are those individuals
Deputy Leadbeater has sponsored 3 amendments to Option A amounting to approximately £4 million extra under Option A. Deputies Bury and Ozanne are seeking some £3.8 million of additional funding under Option A. Deputy Cameron is supporting £1.6 million extra. Deputy Matthews has requested that the current removal of tax relief on Mortgages continue (which reduces tax returns).
Deputy Goy is supporting the Matthews amendment to reduce tax returns by freezing Mortgage relief (however to be fair, he also wants an increase on Stamp Duty for properties over £2.5 million) Deputy Curgenven wants to save approximately £0.5 million by freezing Overseas Aid at current levels. Deputy VanKatwyk wants to maintain Marine Diesel at current levels. Alderney Representatives Hill and Snowdon are seeking an additional £364,000 for Alderney’s air services. Deputy Vermeulen is in the peculiar position of supporting a Home Affairs request for some £1 million but also supporting a Deputy McKenna amendment to ensure that Option A (includes a 1% budget reduction). Not sure how he can justify both……
It is reasonable to propose ways of funding extra cash if you are seeking to lose revenue from some other tax increase or seeking not to increase taxation at all if everybody else agrees. It seems hypocritical however simply to ask for revenues to be frozen without doing so – regardless of the wish to make life easier for Islanders by doing so. Funds have to be found to balance the agreed Budget.
