Minister criticises UK's review

Deputy Jones said the UK are overstepping the mark

Guernsey's Housing Minister has criticised the UK government for what he describes as interference in the island's decision-making process.

Deputy Dave Jones' claim was in response to the Foot Review, a UK government-led analysis of Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies.

The review recommended the UK considers further action over governance of offshore jurisdictions.

However, Mr Jones said the island was more than capable of making decisions.

Mr Jones said: "We have to let them know on every single occasion when they are overstepping the mark and I believe that some of the conclusions that they've come to in this report are overstepping the mark.

"It's up to politicians like me and others to fight for the rights and the freedoms and the autonomy of our people.

"They are hard won and have been in place for more than 800 years, it is not for some here today gone tomorrow British Labour Government to try and interfere with those rights."

The review was undertaken at a time of great strain on public finances, as the UK government was worried that valuable sources of tax revenue were still being channelled overseas.

The UK Treasury previously said it has always been extremely difficult to estimate how much tax is lost when companies or individuals move offshore.

It would like to see greater transparency, in order to obtain a better idea of the "tax gap".