Move to keep £500 election campaign grant

The policy letter from the States Assembly and Constitution Committee will be debated on 22 May

An attempt to keep the £500 grant from Guernsey's States for people standing in next year's general election has been launched.

Deputies Lester Queripel and Tina Bury have put forward an amendment to the States Assembly and Constitution Committee's (SACC) plans to scrap the grant.

If approved it will mean every candidate can apply for a reimbursement of up to £500 for their expenses when receipts are provided.

The proposal will be debated on 22 May.

If approved it will cost the States about £60,000 according to the two deputies.

Deputies could also approve the date for 2025's general election, with 18 May 2025 proposed by SACC.

SACC has proposed spending limits of £7,500 for candidates and £15,000 for political parties.

Deputies Peter Roffey and Miss Bury have asked for those limits to be reduced to £6,000 and £12,000 respectively.

A proposal to increase the number of vacancies in the States needed to trigger a by-election to three, rather than one has also been proposed by SACC.

SACC's policy letter includes plans to set the nomination period for candidates to run from Monday 12 May 2025 at 9:00 BST until Wednesday 14 May 2025 at 16:00.