Guernsey's Chief Minister Lyndon Trott has been briefing key UK Government figures during the Labour Party conference in Brighton.
This included pre-arranged face-to-face meetings with Stephen Timms, Financial Secretary to the Treasury – who has oversight of taxation in the UK; Sarah McCarthy-Fry, Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury – with responsibility for personal savings, pension policy and financial crime; Ian Person, Economic Secretary to the Treasury; former Paymaster General Geoffrey Robinson; and Lord Bach, the Minister at the Ministry of Justice with responsibility for the Crown Dependencies.
The Chief Minister also addressed a seminar organised by the Association of Chartered and Certified Accountants (ACCA) and another organised by Christian Aid, which asked whether an end to tax havens would bring an end to global poverty.
The Chief Minister said: "I explained our recent inclusion on the OECD 'white list' and was able to engage with all the key stakeholders present. I think attending these events is very valuable. Speaking at these events isn't simply about raising Guernsey's profile, it's about breaking down misconceptions and targeting those people who have the most influence over the development of policy. We don't sit back and wait for an opportunity nowadays – we seek them out."
The Chief Minister said that he had been stressing Guernsey's important and mutually beneficial relationship with the City of London, as well as the importance of distinguishing between the premier league of international finance centres and those substantially less compliant with global standards.
He will also be attending the Conservative Party conference next week.
For more information about Guernsey's finance industry please visit www.guernseyfinance.com.
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