Pay cut proposed for next States

Tuesday 21 January 2025

Deputies pay could be cut by 3% from July this year.

Policy and Resources has rejected proposals from the Independent States' Members' Pay Review Panel which had suggested a pay increase for our elected officials.

Instead it is suggesting that the next States - which will be elected in June - are paid 3% less than the current cohort.

In real terms that could mean the P&R President - known as the Chief Minister - is paid £82,228 next term, down from £84,772 currently.

Other committee presidents could see a pay reduction from £65,135 to £63,180 next term, while other deputies could be paid £46,766 - down from £48,213 currently. 

The two Alderney representatives in the States of Guernsey work under a different pay structure but the Guernsey part of their salary could also be reduced.

P&R will need the backing of a majority of current States Members to see this through though.

It has said that it recognises the work of the independent panel members who had suggested increasing pay, but it "has decided that, in the post-budget environment, alternative proposals would be more appropriate".

Pictured: Deputy Lyndon Trott is the current President of P&R. His successor could be paid 3% less than him under P&R's proposals.

The alternative proposals include changing from the current three-tiered wage system to a four-tiered system, which it says will better reflect the level of responsibility of different States Members.

Currently the President of P&R has the highest salary, followed by other committee presidents, followed by all other States Members. 

The new four-tiered system would differentiate between deputies who sit on committees and any which don't.

In the future, P&R wants States Members pay to be linked to RPIX - suggesting any increase would occur on 1 July based on the RPIX figure at the end of the preceding March.

P&R has also suggested some other changes, including a proposed one month salary payment to a sitting States Member who loses their role at an election, or who has to step down through ill health. If approved this payment would not be automatic and would be given on application.

P&R also wants States Members pay to be reviewed every eight years rather than every four years as it is currently.

Pictured top: The current States Assembly.