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The States of Guernsey have paid the Lieutenant Governor nearly £6million in grants over the past nine years.
The figures are available in the annual States of Guernsey accounts alongside dozens of other grants the government pays out each year, including to the Island Medical Centre in Alderney, the Guernsey Housing Association and the Guernsey Sports Commission.
In 2022 the States of Guernsey paid out £716,000 to the Lieutenant-Governor. In 2021 this figure was £692,000.
Backdated to 2014 the total amount paid out in grants amounts to just short of £6million. You can see a snapshot of 2022's grant list below:
Questions about the cost of the Lieutenant-Governor to the taxpayer have arisen after two deputies recently submitted an amendment to Policy and Resources budget for 2024 seeking to force any future post holder to pay taxes, something which historically the post-holder has been exempt from.
Deputies Gavin St Pier and Andrew Taylor said: "It is recognised that the Ministry of Justice and the Lord Chancellor have an interest in the matter and that similar arrangements exist for the Lieutenant-Governors of Jersey and the Isle of Man. Accordingly, the proposition includes provision for consultation with these interested parties, following which the Policy & Resources Committee can present the Assembly with the requisite proposition to repeal the income tax exemption."
In an poll run by Express 80% of respondents indicated that the post holder should pay taxes in the future:
365 people took part in the survey.
The Lieutenant-Governor is the Crown's representative in the island and is appointed for a five year term. The current Lieutenant-Governor is Lieutenant General Richard Cripwell CB, CBE.
It’s understood that the Lieutenant-Governor receives a salary of more than £100,000 via the States funded grant, and Express reached out to Government House and the States of Guernsey to better understand where the rest of the grant goes.
"His Excellency, the Lieutenant-Governor by convention receives an annual ‘establishment allowance’ to cover the costs associated with the activities of his role, as the Sovereign’s personal representative, across the Bailiwick,” said Policy and Resources.
“This includes but is not limited to: certain constitutional responsibilities; the hosting of visiting dignitaries, officials and islanders; as well as the day-to-day running of Government House and the small team of support staff."
The exact breakdown was not provided.
Jersey's government also provides a grant to the Lieutenant-Governor, which in 2022 was just under £1million.
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