Guernsey is “cultivating” a relationship with Nigel Farage, according to the island’s Chief Minister.
Deputy Lyndon Trott this week told Jersey’s Chamber of Commerce that the Reform UK leader could be “of value” to the Channel Islands.
He also said that Mr Farage “very much hopes he can retire to Guernsey”.
Deputy Trott added: “He absolutely love the place, has relations in Alderney and is looking to see out his twilight years [in Guernsey].”
Guernsey’s Chief Minister shared a platform with his namesake Jersey’s Chief Minister Deputy Lyndon Farnham at the Chamber of Commerce lunch.
The audience ‘question and answer’ session saw one guest query how the relationship between Jersey, Guernsey and the United States of America could develop over the next couple of years and how the Channel Islands can benefit from that relationship.
Deputy Trott said: “Well, we’ve got to be very clear about our respective places in the world.
“The statistics show that the majority of investment into administered schemes in Guernsey derive from US investors, it is a very significant part of our business.
“But the trick is to remain relevant but off the radar.”
Deputy Trott brought Mr Farage up at this point, acknowledging the Reform UK leader’s friendship with the American President.
He said: “One of the Channel Islands’ closest friends is the man that many people probably wouldn’t be natural supporters of, and that is Nigel Farage – he is very close, as you know, to President Trump and said to me quite recently when I was in Downing Street, ‘look, anytime you need any intel given to my friend Donald I’d be very happy to do so’.”
[Nigel Farage] said to me… ‘Look, anytime you need any intel given to my friend Donald [Trump] I’d be very happy to do so’
Deputy Lyndon Trott, chief minister of guernsey
Deputy Trott also said that smaller jurisdictions like Guernsey and Jersey need to “stay below the radar” while also staying relevant.
“It’s a delicate balance,” he said.
“Years ago, I had somebody telling me that ‘what we like about doing with the Channel Islands is when we do, we know who we’re dealing with – you don’t pretend to be Germany, you don’t pretend to be the United States’. You’ve got to pitch it just right.
“So I hope that answers your question, but I would be happy if nothing containing Guernsey’s or Jersey’s name came across his desk in the Oval Office that would be successful.”
Jersey Chamber Chief Executive, Murray Norton suggested that people might not be happy that Guernsey’s Chief Minister is using Nigel Farage as “a go-between”.
“It might get a laugh, but the truth is, you take whatever you can get,” said Deputy Trott.
“Now, Nigel Farage is friendly with Donald Trump, and Nigel Farage has publicly said that he regards himself as a friend of the Channel islands.
“Now, if you stick two fingers up at that sort of gesture, you never know when that might be of value.
“So what we do is we play a long diplomatic game, and Nigel Farage is an example of a relationship that we will cultivate.
“We won’t and we won’t overdo it, but you never know when he may be of value to us.”
He added: “The point is that you don’t know who your friends are until you are a friend in need.
“I believe Farage is someone who’s probably quite genuine, because he went on to tell me in that meeting, and this won’t go down very well at home, that he very much hopes he can retire to Guernsey, he absolutely love the place, has relations in Alderney and is looking to see out his twilight years [in Guernsey].”