Questions grow after leaked Battle of Flowers accounts reveal £745k cost

Questions have been raised about how the Battle of Flowers spent over £745,000 on last year’s parade – including over £100,000 on security and marketing, and £30,000 on Eurovision singer Sam Ryder – but the Chair of the association has remained silent.

While Battle of Flowers Association Chair Russel Labey said last week that news the event would be cancelled this year due to financial difficulties was disappointing but “sensible”, he has yet to respond to allegations of huge debts to suppliers and questions from members about huge annual deficits.

A strategy group set up to save Battle firmly pointed the finger of blame at “the current board of directors and staff” last week, saying their “actions” had led to “insurmountable” financial and corporate governance challenges.

Meanwhile, Economic Development Minister Kirsten Morel is due to be grilled in this afternoon’s States Assembly sitting on when he became aware that this year’s Battle of Flowers parade would not be going ahead and what steps he took to safeguard the event’s future.

Battle grant can’t be used to pay creditors

Express has learned that the Economy Department had told those hoping to put on a Battle this year that it stood ready to offer more than £200,000 towards the event.

In a letter seen by Express, the Minister told the then-hopeful organisers at the start of March that the Government would also “support them in restructuring their debt” – but noted that any grant given by Government for an event in 2025 could not be used to pay off liabilities.

“I recognise that the Battle Strategy Group is not responsible for incurring or for paying off the debt incurred following last year’s event but I know you will be conscious that outstanding bills to creditors may create barriers to those same suppliers being able or willing to support any event in 2025 if debts are not first settled.”

Despite this funding commitment, the Battle Strategy Group said last week that they still felt unable to go ahead.

Yesterday, more details of last year’s financial management came to light.

Space man… and rocketing costs

Leaked accounts revealed that the Battle of Flowers spent more than £745,000 on last year’s parade – including nearly £54,000 on security, £50,000 on marketing and £30,000 on Eurovision runner-up Sam Ryder.

Meanwhile, figures obtained by Express through a request made under the Freedom of Information Law show that the association spent £482,079 in 2023 – despite generating just £287,501 in income.

Even with £178,500 in Government grants, the 2023 event still recorded an overall loss of £80,773.

Area seating at the 2023 parade cost over £150,000, with the increase in costs compared to previous years playing a key role in the financial shortfall.

The largest rise came from arena expenses, which were up by £43,318 year on year.

Finale performances cost £47,125 – an increase of £36,166 from the previous year.

Marketing and PR spending also saw a significant jump from 2022, nearly doubling to £16,053.

Despite these rising costs, ticket sales dropped slightly, bringing in £11,697 less than in 2022 – a 3% decline.

The Government declined to provide the figures from last year’s event because the “accounts for 2024 are not currently held.”

An extraordinary meeting of exhibitors and members is due to be held tomorrow at Grouville Parish Hall to discuss the way forward.

Express previously reached out to Battle Association Chair Russell Labey on the matter of Battle finances when concerns were raised previously, but did not receive a response.

Mr Labey did, however, make a general comment on the 2024 parade last week following news of the 2025 parade’s cancellation: “The parade in 2024, with the participation of all 12 parishes, brought even more communities together in the creative endeavour of float-building and a fuller event with more entertainment proved a big hit with audiences.

“A safe and successful event of this scale must be matched with the people, professionals and resources required. The task now is to put those in place and come back stronger in 2026.”

Following the leaking of the most recent accounts, the former St Helier Deputy, who became Chair just over two years ago, was contacted again regarding finances, but no response has been received.

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