Job cuts could fund diesel price drop says deputy
With the ongoing war in the Middle East increasing prices, one deputy is ask for duty to be frozen.
Job cuts could pay for a diesel price cut, deputy says
Prices at the petrol pump in Guernsey have reached record highs
A Guernsey deputy has said leaders could finance a fuel price reduction for drivers by cutting civil servant posts.
Deputy Neil Inder said he intends to bring forward two amendments on fuel costs in relation to the forthcoming States budget amid "exceptional circumstances due to global events".
The suggested amendments would freeze fuel duty and also reduce the pump price of white diesel - used by cars, trucks and buses - by 5p.
When asked how the States would pay for this, he said: "What the States needs to start looking at properly is reducing the size of the civil service."
Deputy Neil Inder said rising fuel price rises were set to get worse amid global unrest
In the 2027 budget, fuel duty is due to rise in line with inflation (4.3%) from 1 January 2027, taking duty rates to 94.4p per litre.
With the war continuing in the Middle East, fuel prices have risen across Europe, with diesel prices reaching an all-time high, according to the RAC motoring organisation.
This comes as fuel prices recently reached record highs across Guernsey, and diesel hit £2.00 per litre in the UK.
White diesel, used for ordinary road vehicles, is charged at the standard fuel duty rate, while red diesel, used in industries including farming and fishing, is a rebated fuel that is duty-free or taxed at a heavily reduced rate.
"I think we've got to realise what's happened to the world diesel prices," said Inder.
"There's been an unreasonable spike in diesel prices over the last three or four months and it really is set to get worse."
He said this would inevitably affect the cost of living and added: "Whether we like it or not diesel really does make the world go round and the wheels turn in Guernsey."
Inder said that under "normal circumstances" he would probably support the P&R proposal to "up duty on the diesel", but said the global climate required more consideration.
"In reality the biggest cost to the States is the amount of people we employ," he said.
"Given the cost of the revenue they would gain, all that really is, is four or five civil servants - stop employing them, those that retire, don't replace them."
"There's only one budget a year and this is the time to address it," added Inder.
The BBC has asked the States for comment.