Labour genuinely interested in Guernsey - deputy

The delegation from Guernsey led by Deputy Lyndon Trott [left] held several meetings which included Lord Ponsonby [right]

The UK government is "genuinely interested" in the history and relationship between the UK and Guernsey, a deputy says.

The comments were made by Deputy Jonathan Le Tocq after a delegation attended the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool.

The minister for external relations said: "Those I met with were all genuinely interested in that relationship and understood the importance of respecting our historical ties."

The delegation was led by the Chief Minister of Guernsey, Deputy Lyndon Trott, with Deputy Chief Minister, Deputy Heidi Soulsby, also attending.

'Paramount importance'

Le Tocq said: "There are 243 new Labour MPs.

"Making sure that the UK Parliament has a clear understanding of the constitutional relationship we have with the Crown, and through that the UK, is of paramount importance."

A States spokesperson confirmed meetings and discussions had been held with the Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, the Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves and Lord Ponsonby, the government minister with responsibility for the Crown dependencies, among many others.

Trott said: "The conference provided an early opportunity to meet many members of the new UK government."

'Familiar challenges'

He said: "We were able to explain our shared challenges, the strategic importance of Guernsey as a conduit for significant investment into the UK and the need to respect the relationship that we share."

Soulsby added the "overriding messages" from the UK government were on themes recognising the need for economic growth to fund the reform of health and social care.

She also said there was a "drive to tackle the housing crisis as well as the importance of political stability for inward investment".

"The challenges were very familiar," she said.