A barrage of regulatory clampdowns and political attacks on the Channel Islands' controversial financial industry has prompted one of Jersey's most senior politicians to call for preparations to be made to break the "thrall of Whitehall" and declare independence from the UK.
Sir Philip Bailhache, the island's assistant chief minister, said: "I feel that we get a raw deal. I feel it's not fair … I think that the duty of Jersey politicians now is to try to explain what the island is doing and not to take things lying down.
"The island should be prepared to stand up for itself and should be ready to become independent if it were necessary in Jersey's interest to do so."
In a Guardian interview, he said strained relations with the UK over the past five years had made it "very plain" that Jersey's interests were not always aligned with those of Britain.
"I hope that the constitutional relationship with the UK will continue. But if it becomes plain that our interests in fact lie in being independent it doesn't seem to be that we should bury our head in the sand and say we're not going to do that."
For decades Jersey's tax, legal and regulatory framework has been structured to draw in the financial activities of multinational businesses and wealthy individuals. But a growing backlash has seen politicians in the UK and elsewhere lashing out at aggressive schemes leeching tax revenues from the increasingly stretched public wallets.
François Hollande swept to power in France last month with a manifesto pledge to stop French banks operating in tax havens.
Source: Jersey threatens to break with UK over tax backlash | UK news | The Guardian
AtW's comment - they should offer Russia to have long lease airbase with nuclear weapons or something to really have an effect
Sir Philip Bailhache, the island's assistant chief minister, said: "I feel that we get a raw deal. I feel it's not fair … I think that the duty of Jersey politicians now is to try to explain what the island is doing and not to take things lying down.
"The island should be prepared to stand up for itself and should be ready to become independent if it were necessary in Jersey's interest to do so."
In a Guardian interview, he said strained relations with the UK over the past five years had made it "very plain" that Jersey's interests were not always aligned with those of Britain.
"I hope that the constitutional relationship with the UK will continue. But if it becomes plain that our interests in fact lie in being independent it doesn't seem to be that we should bury our head in the sand and say we're not going to do that."
For decades Jersey's tax, legal and regulatory framework has been structured to draw in the financial activities of multinational businesses and wealthy individuals. But a growing backlash has seen politicians in the UK and elsewhere lashing out at aggressive schemes leeching tax revenues from the increasingly stretched public wallets.
François Hollande swept to power in France last month with a manifesto pledge to stop French banks operating in tax havens.
Source: Jersey threatens to break with UK over tax backlash | UK news | The Guardian
AtW's comment - they should offer Russia to have long lease airbase with nuclear weapons or something to really have an effect
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