"An enormous loss" for P&R..."a bad day for Guernsey"

Wednesday 26 October 2022

Most deputies spoken to by Express were unsurprised by Deputy Heidi Soulsby's resignation from the Policy & Resources Committee. They did not necessarily expect it to happen yesterday afternoon, as it did, but they had gradually become more aware of tension over policies and approach which in recent weeks Committee members had struggled to contain.

"Loss" was the word used most frequently to describe their colleague's departure from the senior committee. "A big loss," said Deputy Peter Roffey; "a huge loss," said Deputies Sasha Kazantseva-Miller and Simon Fairclough; "an enormous loss," said Deputy Gavin St. Pier.

Deputy Steve Falla said Deputy Soulsby "clearly brought some diversity to the committee, some emotional intelligence, as well as the experience, track record and respect earned over the past decade". Deputy Andy Cameron feared she would take with her from the Committee "fairness, trust, intelligence and genuine care for the Guernsey community and environment".

Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez, now the most senior woman in the Assembly along with Deputy Andrea Dudley-Owen, was "sad about it". Deputy John Gollop, the Father of the House, called it "a bad day for Guernsey".

Pictured: Deputy Steve Falla will be sorry to see Deputy Heidi Soulsby leave the Policy & Resources Committee and believes it will cause "some short-term instability".

The consensus was that Deputy Soulsby's resignation would weaken the Committee.

"The Committee has lost not only the significant and broad political experience that she brings but a crucial element of diversity of thought which is vital for good decision-making," said Deputy Yvonne Burford.

Deputy de Sausmarez said Deputy Soulsby is "very competent and experienced with a valuable range of insight, both politically and in the real world…I think her greatest attributes include collegiate pragmatism and emotional intelligence…I think the committee will be weaker as a whole, as I expect the new configuration will not achieve the same range of perspectives or experience".

Deputy Carl Meerveld, offering an alternative perspective, wondered if her resignation may prove cathartic.

"A strong committee requires a degree of unity and shared vision to pursue its policies. This is particularly important for Policy & Resources as the steering committee coordinating policy initiatives and finances across the whole Assembly," said Deputy Meerveld.

"Every committee member is entitled to question and challenge, but when that descends into entrenched division the committee may be strengthened by changes in membership. I believe this may prove to be the case with Policy & Resources."

Deputy Aidan Matthews was less certain. "We will have to wait and see if anyone can step in and if the new committee will inspire confidence," he said.

Pictured: Deputy Carl Meerveld thinks Deputy Soulsby's resignation could allow the Policy & Resources Committee to lead with a greater sense of unity. 

Widespread concern was expressed about the senior committee losing experience and narrowing the range of political views among its membership.

"Heidi provided the Committee with a sharp mind and an alternative view, but perhaps more than anything else political experience at the sharp end," said Deputy Roffey. "It is unusual to have a senior committee where 40% of the membership are first termers and at times it shows.

"They need to look for a replacement who can provide real but constructive and intelligent challenge around the committee table. Heidi may well be difficult to replace in that respect. The worse thing the other committee members could do is look for someone who will just agree with them all of the time."

Deputy Burford said that Deputy Soulsby’s replacement "will clearly need to be someone with substantial political experience".

"I hope they are not tempted to narrow the range of viewpoints around the committee table," said Deputy de Sausmarez. "I hope whoever the States see fit to elect next will also demonstrate independence of thought and strength of principle in the way that I’m sure Heidi has done."

"If she is replaced by a male, especially one affiliated or possibly allied to The Guernsey Party, etc., we will lose both gender and political balance," said Deputy Gollop.

"It's not an easy job. It's a tough gig," said Deputy Falla. "Given the overarching mandate, it would benefit from somebody who can build strong relationships between the senior committee and all other internal stakeholders within the government."

Pictured: Deputy Sasha Kazantseva-Miller said Deputy Soulsby's resignation blew the lid on "unhealthy" and "unhelpful" behaviour in various committees across the States.

In her resignation statement, Deputy Soulsby said: "It has been obvious for quite a while that my views and advice have not been valued by some on the Committee and I think there is little point in me continuing in the hope that things may get better."

Deputies Kazantseva-Miller and St. Pier said these words of frustration expressed by Deputy Soulsby were representative of a broad problem across the States.

"Deputy Soulsby's resignation is a huge loss to Policy & Resources," said Deputy Kazantseva-Miller. "She is one of the most experienced politicians in the Assembly with a proven track record and leadership style at some of the most challenging times our community has faced during covid.

"Sadly, a lack of valuing views and contributions is not something isolated to the Policy & Resources Committee. I have witnessed the same dynamic in other committees and in the States' Assembly. To a point where it is unhealthy and unhelpful and does not help progress the huge amount of work government is supposed to undertake under the Government Work Plan."

Deputy St. Pier said: "Diversity of background, experience and thought is essential to any government, including our own. From personal experience, it's clear that this government does not particularly welcome scrutiny or challenge. Unfortunately, it misinterprets anything that is not outright support as opposition and criticism.  

"I may be proved wrong, but I would imagine that the Committee will not want anyone who provides internal challenge and their main criteria for a replacement will be unswerving loyalty."

Pictured: Some deputies said that members' loyalty to their committees is prized too highly in the current Assembly and could dominate the election of a replacement for Deputy Soulsby on the Policy & Resources Committee.

Other reaction from deputies...

Deputy Simon Fairclough:

"I was surprised to hear of Deputy Soulsby's resignation. She obviously has her reasons and I don't think it's fair or right for me to comment on those. Personally, I think she will be a huge loss to our senior Committee. Not only because of her political experience and knowhow but because she was leading on some critical work for the States this term, most notably the Government Work Plan and the reshaping of government to name but two. However, I am sure – as she says in her statement – that Heidi will continue to make a positive contribution to the future of Guernsey outside of the Committee."

Deputy Aidan Matthews:

"I am surprised by Heidi's resignation. It was apparent there were some political differences between members of the Policy & Resources Committee on some issues in particular, although I had not appreciated the depth of the divide. We will have to wait and see if anyone can step in and if the new committee will inspire confidence. I’d like to see someone who can represent ordinary islanders. Views of middle income islanders are often overlooked. I'm afraid I don't know of any connection to upcoming GST proposals. I have made my own views clear that I oppose GST. It would be highly inflationary during one of the most serious economic crises in decades. Despite attempts to mitigate, is an inherently regressive tax."

Pictured: Deputy Aidan Matthews.

Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez:

"Heidi has a particularly striking range and depth of political experience, combined with some valuable real-world skills. She'd served on numerous committees before taking up the weighty role of President of the Committee for Health & Social Care last term, facing the toughest of challenges not only in steering that very heavy ship onto a more agile course through the Partnership of Purpose but also of course navigating us as safely as possible through the unprecedented challenge of a global pandemic. She was recognised by both Her Majesty The Queen in being awarded an MBE and the electorate, with whom she polled higher in the 2020 election than any of her Policy & Resources colleagues."

Deputy Andy Cameron:

"I'm quite shocked. I probably shouldn't be as I can imagine how challenging Policy & Resources meetings have been for her recently. Deputy Le Tocq seems to be increasingly off island on foreign affairs-related States' business and the three remaining members are often politically opposed to Deputy Soulsby's views. I'd say she was the most experienced member of the committee by far. They'll be difficult shoes to fill. Deputies Trott or St. Pier would be good, but whether they would wish to sit on a committee consisting of the remaining members remains to be seen. There are a few other suitable candidates but they play an important role on the committees that they already sit on."

Pictured (clockwise, from left): Deputies Lindsay de Sausmarez, John Gollop and Andy Cameron.

Deputy John Gollop:

"The resignation will weaken the Committee because Heidi has a proven track record of public service, dedicated policy brilliance, a sense of collaborative partnership and social awareness. Also Heidi is key to civil service reform, machinery of government reconsideration and Government Work Plan delivery. Moreover, her departure leaves a void to be filled, knock-on consequences and generally weeks of instability. It's very unsettling and depressing. Part of me hopes she will reconsider her position before the 2023 Budget debate [next week] and at least remain on the senior committee, perhaps allowing another colleague to be Vice President."

Deputy Steve Falla:

"I think it introduces some short-term instability as a fair chunk of Policy & Resources' work had been delegated to Deputy Soulsby, for example the Government Work Plan. Only earlier today, I was planning to meet with her to discuss progress on the commissioning of services to the third sector, which is an area that I'm particularly keen on. Any distraction like this takes some of the energy and focus away from the task in hand."

Deputy Adrian Gabriel:

"I first heard of Deputy Soulsby's resignation via an official announcement from Policy & Resources to all States' members mid-afternoon. I don't think that providing individual comment or speculation as to the reasoning behind Deputy Soulsby's decision is helpful or even productive. I was surprised to hear the news, but having worked with Deputy Soulsby on Commonwealth Parliamentary Association business and the recent Princess Elizabeth Hospital field Requête, I know she has strong decision making qualities and high morals and this decision would not have been taken lightly."

Deputy John Dyke:

"This did not come as a total surprise. I can't make any very well informed comments on the dynamics of this. However, given our current fiscal problems, her replacement must have business skills and a very firm determination to get costs under control and not to undertake further initiatives that will add to our tax burden."

The following deputies were invited to comment but were unable to reply in time for publication: Marc Leadbeater, Charles Parkinson, Andrew Taylor and Lyndon Trott.

Pictured (top): Deputies Peter Ferbrache and Heidi Soulsby in happier times as President and Vice President of the Policy & Resources Committee.

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ANALYSIS: Resignation another symptom of the most divided States

Deputy Soulsby resigns from Policy & Resources