A politician who has campaigned against the introduction of GST and has long backed corporate tax reforms, has been appointed as Guernsey’s Treasury lead just weeks before another States debate on our tax systems.
Deputy Charles Parkinson has also confirmed to Express what is likely to be in the new ‘blended proposals’ that P&R will be bringing to the States.
“I am pleased to have been nominated Treasury Lead for the Policy & Resources Committee, a position that I last held in the 2008-2012 term of government,” he said.
“Policy & Resources will be proposing a package of tax reform measures this summer, including a basic rate of Income Tax of 15%, GST at 3% accompanied by mitigations to protect those on low incomes, reforms to our Social Security contribution system, motor tax adjustments and a range of corporate tax measures, as recommended by the Tax Review Sub-Committee which I chaired.”
The full details of the proposals which Deputy Parkinson described are due to be published on 8 June ahead of a States debate in July. If the new plan is approved, the goods and services tax is expected to come in during 2028 along with the mitigations that make up the total package of tax measures.
“I think this package represents the best compromise,” added Deputy Parkinson.
“No one likes tax increases, but we need to stabilise the finances of the States in the medium term, taking account of the trends in public finances caused by our aging demographics and the need for significant investment in our infrastructure.”
Deputy Parkinson is a Chartered Accountant and Barrister, with a long background in financial services, including founding the Praxis Group.
He was first elected to the States in 2004, and later served as Guernsey’s Treasury and Resources Minister between 2008 and 2012, under the States previous committee system.
He stood down from the States at the 2012 election but was returned in a by-election in 2015, later serving as President of the States Trading Supervisory Board between 2016 and 2018, and the President of the Committee for Economic Development between 2017 and 2020.
That was defeated, but after being reelected in 2025, he was appointed to the Tax Review Sub-Committee, tasked with looking at corporate tax reform, including the potential for a territorial corporate tax system, to find a sustainable revenue package.
Having done that work, Deputy Parkinson recently had to accept that territorial tax reform can’t happen just yet but he still thinks it could change in the future.
Deputy Parkinson has reiterated that the work of the Tax Review Sub-Committee is directing work on the latest proposals for tax reform.
P&R President, Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez said Deputy Parkinson was a ‘natural’ choice for the Treasury role, as the committee works towards publishing its position in June, ahead of the July debate.
“I’m very pleased that Charles is taking the role of Treasury lead, which is a natural fit given his significant professional expertise and political background in this area, most notably of course as a former Treasury Minister,” she said.
P&R has also elected Deputy Yvonne Burford as Vice-President, said Deputy de Sausmarez.
This is the first time that two women have held the two most senior roles in the States, with Deputy de Sausmarez the first female President of P&R and Deputy Burford the second female vice-President.
“I’m delighted that Yvonne has been elected Vice-President,” said Deputy de Sausmarez.
“We’re fortunate to have committee members who bring many strengths to the table, but the Committee will benefit from Yvonne’s broad experience and sound judgement as Vice-President.”
Both appointments were made following Deputy Gavin St Pier’s recent resignation from P&R while he deals with personal matters.