Latest news with #AlexSnowdon
BBC News
01-08-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Alderney States criticised for its Gaza statement
The States of Alderney is facing criticism from one of its politicians after issuing a statement on the Israel-Gaza Thursday, it said it endorsed the "compassionate" message from Guernsey's chief minister, which urged the UK to condemn the "suffering and starvation unfolding in Gaza".Alderney States Member Iain MacFarlane, one of the island's 10 politicians, said he "did not support the statement" from the States of Alderney. He said: "Issuing statements on highly complex geopolitical matters risks appearing performative and politically selective." The statement said: "The States of Alderney endorse the compassionate message from the government of Guernsey in highlighting the humanitarian situation in Gaza alongside the numerous other humanitarian crises in the world, and the commitment to upholding the principles of International Law."Last week, Jersey's Chief Minister Lyndon Farnham called for the "immediate cessation of violence against civilians and the release of all hostages" in a letter to the UK government. It led to pressure from 17 Guernsey deputies for the States of Guernsey to take similar action. 'Other ongoing disasters' Despite criticism from MacFarlane, some politicians, including Steve Roberts and representative in Guernsey's States, Alex Snowdon, have endorsed the move by Alderney's States. MacFarlane said: "I did not support the publication of this statement. As a local government with no foreign policy role, Alderney has no mandate or influence over international affairs. "What concerns me most is that this particular conflict was singled out, seemingly following Guernsey's lead, while other ongoing humanitarian disasters in Sudan, Yemen, Congo and elsewhere receive no such recognition."He added: "That inconsistency sends the wrong message, and undermines any sense of neutrality or principle."He stressed that the island's 10 politicians and the government itself should focus on the matters immediately impacting residents. The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza said on Thursday that 91 people have been killed while seeking aid in the past day and two people had died of Defense Forces (IDF) said it had continued a "series of actions aimed at improving the humanitarian response in the Gaza Strip" and that "over the past few hours, 43 aid packages, containing food for the residents of both the southern and northern Gaza Strip, were airdropped".It again denied "false claims of deliberate starvation in Gaza".It comes as US President Donald Trump says Canada's move to recognise a Palestinian state, following similar plans by the UK and France, threatens a US-Canada trade deal, with Israel's foreign ministry calling it "a reward for Hamas".
BBC News
09-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Deputy Rob Curgenven 'disappointed' by Home Affairs result
A newly elected Guernsey deputy says he "respects and fully supports the decision of the Assembly" after failing to win a seat on the Committee for Home Affairs. Newly elected Deputy Rob Curgenven was pipped to the fifth seat on the committee, in one of only two contested elections on Affairs President Marc Leadbeater nominated Curgenven alongside Alderney representative Alex Snowdon, Deputy Munazza Malik and Deputy John said he was "disappointed that I did not get the opportunity to work as closely with Deputy Leadbeater and others as I may have liked". In a statement, Curgenven said: "There has been much controversy over my unsuccessful bid to sit on the Committee for Home Affairs, following a nomination from President Leadbeater."We are very lucky to live in a democratic society where a wide range of views can be shared, even if we may disagree strongly with them at times."Following this decision, I have been contacted by many of my peers offering a shoulder to lean on, including Deputy De Sausmarez, for which I am hugely grateful."I hope that throughout this term I am able to, working with my peers, continue to best support the people of our island."After a series of speeches from proposers and nominees, Snowdon was elected to the committee with 34 votes, Malik also with 34, Gollop with 26 and Simon Vermeulen, who was proposed by Deputy Jayne Ozanne, secured 21 received 19 votes and was not elected to Home Affairs.
Daily Mirror
27-04-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Tiny UK airport on island 'frozen in the 1970's' earmarked for £24m overhaul
This diminutive airport on a Channel Island captures the charm of a bygone era, but without urgent upgrades it could soon result in a 'tailspin' for Alderney's economy Alderney is the northernmost of the inhabited Channel Islands, with direct flights from the British mainland and a neighbouring isle serving as its primary economic lifeline. Part of the Bailiwick of Guernsey, the tiny island's only airport is often described as being 'frozen in the 1970s', but it faces an uncertain future — plans for a much-needed £24 million overhaul have been put on hold due to spiraling costs and political wrangling. With its 1960s-era terminal and ageing runway, Alderney Airport currently handles around seven flights a day, with Aurigny Air Services connecting its 2,000 residents to Guernsey and Southampton in 10 and 40 minutes respectively. It was the first airport to be built in the Channel Islands, and to this day offers just a single café and solitary shop where passengers can stock up on refreshments and supplies. However, decades of temporary repairs, costing an estimated £400,000 a year, are no longer enough to keep the runway up to the required safety standards. Recent warnings from the Civil Aviation Authority, as well as Alderney representatives Alex Snowdon and Edward Hill, have highlighted the 'very high risk' that the runway could soon fail to meet licensing conditions, potentially forcing a long-term closure. Such a scenario, the deputies warn, would quickly trigger a 'serious downturn' in Alderney's social and economic wellbeing. They told the Guernsey Press: 'Despite the twice-yearly significant patching and repair work undertaken by specialist contractors in recent years, Alderney Airport now faces a very high risk in the near future that it will not meet the necessary licensing conditions – primarily relating to safety factors — resulting at best in the introduction of more stringent and restrictive operating limitations, or perhaps more realistically a long-term closure of the airstrip. 'We cannot stress enough that any long term closure of Alderney Airport would rapidly lead to a serious tailspin of both Alderney's social and economic well-being — neither of which would be acceptable to the States.' Work due to start in 2028 The States of Guernsey approved an ambitious £24 million redevelopment in 2022, aiming to extend the runway for larger aircraft and replace the outdated terminal and fire station. But when the project went to tender, the lowest bid came in at £37 million — far above the agreed budget. As a result, the project has been paused while officials scramble to find a more affordable solution, with some estimates for even a 'do-minimum' option now ranging from £25 million to £55 million. This delay means work that was supposed to start in the spring of 2024 may not begin until as late as 2028, leaving Alderney's only airstrip in limbo. The States of Guernsey have committed to urgently reassess the project, with a new plan expected by the end of 2025, but the focus may shift to a more modest upgrade suitable for smaller planes. Long celebrated for its blend of charm and tranquility, Alderney's unique character is part of its appeal. Just three miles long and one and a half wide, it is known for its safe and peaceful atmosphere, where children can roam free and life moves at a slower, friendlier pace. But without a functioning airport, Alderney risks isolation, especially in winter when ferry services are unreliable. As the States of Guernsey debate the future of the isle's airport, the outcome will determine whether this time-capsule island can remain connected to the outside world, or whether it risks being frozen in time for all the wrong reasons.
