Preparations to welcome new Lieutenant Governor

Thursday 23 February 2017

Officials are preparing for the arrival of the Island’s new Lieutenant Governor.

Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton will officially take the oath of office in the Royal Court on Monday 13th March, and will attend his first States sitting the following morning.

The former Jaguar bomber pilot, and his wife, Anne, have visited the Island on a number of occasions, most notably to enjoy the annual Jersey International Air Display, and say they’re looking forward to making the Island their home for the next five years:

“The people of Jersey have always made my wife and I most welcome during our visits to the Island over many years and we look forward greatly to working with and living amongst all of the residents in the years ahead. Once I take up the appointment, I would intend to meet as many of the Jersey people as possible and by listening to and learning from them, to share productively in the life of this jewel in the Channel Islands.”

Pictured: Outgoing Lieutenant Governor, Sir John McColl.

The Lieutenant Governor is appointed by the Queen on the recommendation of a Jersey panel and has traditionally been a retired military man. When the job was advertised in 2010 it had a £100,000 tax free pay packet. According to the UK Cabinet Office website Sir Stephen’s RAF pay in 2016 was in the £165,000-169,999 bracket.

The Governor is considered to be a ‘link’ between the Island and the UK Government. Whilst he’s entitled to sit in the States next to the Bailiff, and many previous Governors have regularly attended sittings, they don’t have a vote. In 2005 they lost the right to veto any States legislation. The Governor also has a chair in the Royal Court. Traditionally, the Governor only speaks in the States on two occasions: when he first arrives and when he finally leaves.