A raft of amendments to the 2018 Jersey budget put forward by Senator Philip Ozouf have been rejected.
He wanted to reduce the proposed new tax on larger retailers from 20% to 10%, offering up a range of other revenue-raising measures to offset the difference:
- A plan to reduce the duty free limit on cigarettes being brought into Jersey gathered just 2 votes of support with 39 against.
- Extending the retail tax to include bookmakers was lost 34 votes to 8, while levying it on pubs and clubs was rejected by 37 votes to 4.
- His overall plan to introduce a 10% retail tax was defeated 29 votes to 14.
Earlier in the day, the States chamber supported the Constable of Grouville’s amendment to planned increases in Vehicle Emission Duty which will see a 5%, rather than 2.5%, rise in the tax on more-polluting vehicles.
This is the state of play at the end of day one of debate. It continues tomorrow (Wednesday).
