POLITICIANS are warming to the concept of Guernsey clocking on to Euro-time. A growing number are keen to investigate the possibility of following Jersey in the pursuit of double summer time and believe the idea is worthy of further consideration.

Such a plan in the Channel Islands would result in the clocks going forward two hours in March instead of one and going back by the same amount of time in October to Greenwich Mean Time.

‘This is an issue that comes up from time to time and I think this is an example of where pan-island co-operation could have mutual benefit,’ said Treasury minister Lyndon Trott.

‘Certainly if Jersey feels strongly that double summer time is an advantage and decides to change, it may well be appropriate for us to follow suit,’ he said.

Former chief executive of tourism Deputy Chris Brock said: ‘I can see the huge benefits for tourism and I’m also sure the extra hour in the evening could have huge benefits to people living in Guernsey.’

But he accepted he was no expert on potential ramifications for the island’s finance industry and time zones and insisted it must remain competitive in the sector.

Commerce and Employment minister Stuart Falla can remember various people, including the late Mike Burbridge, being enamoured by the idea of double summer time.

‘I would not have picked up the mantle and said this is the best thing Guernsey could do but I would not say this is the worst thing to do,’ he said.

‘I have an open mind and can see merits in it differentiating the Channel Islands from the UK, but also can understand that some businesses would say it would make life more difficult because of the time difference.

‘I think it’s worth somebody exploring it with Jersey but it would not be me,’ he said.

Deputy Geoff Mahy said he would personally favour such a move.

‘With it being daylight now at 5am in the summer, a large part of the day is lost to people,’ he said.

‘If Jersey puts forward a strong case, clearly the Channel Islands must all be the same and I think I would welcome it because you have more daylight hours.

‘We notice this in France and maybe it would save energy. If it reduced our energy demands by 10% that would make a big difference,’ he said.

He believed the difficulty might come with the likes of farmers who might not want to change.

Deputy Barry Brehaut said: ‘I like the idea of sharing a time with Europe. I’m not sure of the benefit of double summer time but there is a logic of having the same time as our French counterparts. I don’t think it creates a problem with the difference of hours.

‘Do the rest of the world know we have Liberation Day and other public holidays unique to Guernsey? It would not take people long to catch on to the idea of us being European time because people’s trading partners the other side of the world are in different time zones,’ he said.

Deputy Rhoderick Matthews saw no harm in reviewing the position.

‘Personally I favour staying in British Summer Time throughout and I don’t like the clock changing.

‘We are consistent with other countries doing it. You need to look at how it affects the whole community and make a balanced judgement.’

Deputy Jenny Tasker believed the idea was a ‘non-starter unless the UK does it’.

‘If they did, it would be very helpful for all of us – the difference is all year round,’ she said.