Guernsey's Chief Minister, Lyndon Trott, has followed up recent meetings with key opinion formers in Washington by briefing high-profile MPs in London about the Island's financial services industry.
This included meetings with Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesman Dr Vince Cable, members of his front-bench team of Shadow Ministers and his senior economic advisers.
"This was an excellent opportunity to brief the very influential Dr Cable and his team," said the Chief Minister.
"It was an extremely positive meeting in which we were able to discuss a number of issues of mutual interest in great detail. These included international financial regulation, the importance of a robust and co-ordinated response to the global downturn and Guernsey's recent 'white listing' by the OECD.
"It was a constructive session and Dr Cable left us in no doubt that as a result of the meeting he was much better informed about Guernsey."
Peter Niven, Chief Executive of Guernsey Finance – the promotional agency for the Island's finance industry, said: "It is important that Guernsey makes every effort to communicate and engage with senior UK politicians, especially those such as Dr Cable who have been vociferous in their condemnation of so-called 'tax havens' and 'offshore' jurisdictions.
"These meetings have been a very useful platform for relaying key messages about the Island's finance industry, the business we conduct and our cooperative stance in meeting the highest international standards of regulation and transparency.
"The fact that these meetings follow so closely after the Chief Minister's visit to Washington shows how keen we are to build on our OECD 'white listing' by highlighting that we are very much in the top tier of international finance centres."
A series of further meetings included talks with Shadow Justice Secretary and Shadow Attorney General Dominic Grieve, a close political ally of Conservative leader David Cameron; the Shadow Justice Minister Eleanor Laing, a highly respected Parliamentarian whose brief includes relationships between the Crown Dependencies and the UK; and David Gauke, the number two to Shadow Chancellor George Osborne in the Conservatives' Treasury team.
The Chief Minister added: "These meetings are vital for Guernsey and are proving to be very productive. It is important for us to maintain strong and effective dialogues with politicians in the UK on the issues which affect the people of Guernsey.
"It is important for Guernsey and the UK to continue their collaborative approach across a range of issues. The meetings I had have strengthened that collaborative approach."
The Chief Minister hopes to meet Mr Osborne and former Opposition leader William Hague before the end of the year. He will be providing monthly updates to the Conservatives about the Island's position and any international developments.
For more information about Guernsey's finance industry please visit www.guernseyfinance.com.
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