Guernsey 'tax haven' hopes for Conservatives conference

Politicians from Guernsey are hoping to persuade the Conservative party that the island does not deserve a reputation as a tax haven.

Chief Minister Peter Harwood and Commerce and Employment Minister Kevin Stewart are attending the conference.

Deputy Stewart said a number of meetings had been scheduled with MPs during the event in Birmingham.

Guernsey was represented at the Liberal Democrat conference, but no States members attended Labour's gathering.

The politicians travelling to Birmingham said it was important to engage with the UK government.

They said they aimed to persuade MPs that Guernsey's offshore finance industry was operating legitimately and was well regulated.

The island's finance industry has been the subject of some debate among UK MPs, particularly with regard to issues such as tax avoidance and tax evasion.