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Deputy Gavin St. Pier will bid to return to the Policy & Resources Committee at the next States' meeting.
The Committee's former President will challenge Deputy Bob Murray in the election for a member to replace Deputy Heidi Soulsby, who resigned two weeks ago.
Deputy Murray has the backing of the Committee, but Deputy St. Pier has described him "as a carbon copy of the Committee’s existing composition" - Deputies Peter Ferbrache, Jonathan Le Tocq, David Mahoney and Mark Helyar, who until recently was the leader in the States of the Guernsey Party, of which Deputy Murray remains a member.
Announcing his candidature this afternoon, Deputy St. Pier said that he would provide the States' Assembly with "real choice in the contest for a vacant seat on the States’ most senior committee".
Express recently reported that Deputy St. Pier had registered his interest in the vacant seat but been told that the Committee was not interested in proposing him.
He will be proposed by Deputy Yvonne Burford and seconded by Deputy Marc Leadbeater. Deputy Burford was a member of Deputy St. Pier's former Partnership of Independents party but resigned soon after the 2020 general election. Deputy Leadbeater was previously a member of the Islanders' Association. They now both sit as independent members of the Assembly.
Pictured: Deputy Gavin St. Pier's candidature will be proposed by Deputy Yvonne Burford (right) and seconded by Deputy Marc Leadbeater.
"I was saddened that Heidi resigned from the Committee but understand and respect her decision," said Deputy St. Pier, who holds no committee memberships in the current States but was President of the senior committee between 2016 and 2020.
"Our consensus, committee system of government over the years has relied on a diversity of experience and views during committee discussion and I believe that I would bring that to the Policy & Resources Committee.
"I have enjoyed providing scrutiny and challenge from the outside of our government’s decision making for the last two years. Undoubtedly, this experience has given me a different perspective, which I believe will now assist the Committee’s important work in the remainder of this term."
Deputy Burford said there should be an election for the seat and that Deputy St. Pier's greater experience made him a strong candidate.
"I think it is important to have a contested election for such an important position in the Assembly and for the candidates and their proposers to have the opportunity to set out what each candidate can bring to the role," said Deputy Burford.
"I believe Deputy St. Pier would bring a wealth of experience that would be of significant benefit to the Policy & Resources Committee, the States as a whole and the community."
Deputy Leadbeater said that Deputy St. Pier would "strengthen the Committee" if elected on 23 November.
"Given the depth of the financial challenges faced by the States, we really cannot afford not to capture and use Gavin’s financial know-how and experience," said Deputy Leadbeater.
Pictured: Deputy Bob Murray will stand in the election with the unanimous backing of the remaining members of the Policy & Resources Committee, including his proposer, Deputy Peter Ferbrache.
Express invited Deputy Murray to share his thoughts about standing for the Committee, but he declined, and said: "I will be making my case to my fellow deputies during the time allocated at the 23 November States' meeting, which is the normal procedure."
Deputy Murray is currently Vice President of the Committee for Education, Sport & Culture and a member of the Development & Planning Authority. He would be required to resign from these roles if elected as a member of the Policy & Resources Committee.
A colleague of his at Education, Sport & Culture, Deputy Andy Cameron, said over the weekend that he was "worried" about Deputy Murray leaving the Committee because of the "serious implications" on the Committee's £105million project to create three 11-16 schools and a new sixth form college alongside redeveloping The Guernsey Institute.
Express set up a poll to allow readers to vote on who they would like to see as the new member on the Committee. Hundreds of votes were cast.
Seven deputies featured in the poll: Deputies Burford and Murray as well as Deputy Chris Blin, Andrea Dudley-Owen, Liam McKenna, Nick Moakes and Lyndon Trott.
Deputy Trott topped the poll with more than a third of votes. Deputy Burford finished in second place with the support of around a quarter of voters.
Every other deputy in the list received fewer than 10% of votes. Deputy Murray was supported by just under 6% of readers.
For kids' sake, Bob, please don't go...
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