Soulsby, St Pier and Trott launch political partnership

Tuesday 18 August 2020

Three Senior Deputies have announced a 'partnership of independents' to contest this year's island-wide election.

Policy & Resources President Gavin St Pier, Health & Social Care Heidi Soulsby and P&R Vice-President Lyndon Trott are heading up the group, which they say "is not a traditional political party".

The trio say the 'Guernsey Partnership of Independents' represents a "broad church of talented people" who have each pledged to act for the good of all under the banner of ‘Move Forward Together’.

Pictured: Deputy St Pier said the partnership will host a number of events in the lead-up to the election on 7 October. 

So far, Deputy St Pier said that "several individuals" had signed up to the partnership and that "more are expected to do so". 

“For the first time Guernsey has the opportunity to vote island-wide," Deputy St Pier said. "This alone is a monumental change and now each voter has the chance to elect all those candidates they believe in; safe in the knowledge we are committed to improving the speed and decisiveness of the States for the good of all."

“It is a very exciting time; the scale of the challenges we face recovering from Covid-19 are huge but with that comes opportunities too. The Guernsey Partnership of Independents demonstrates a rich diversity of talent and a shared commitment to public service."

Pictured: The trio wants to make the States of Deliberation "more effective".

Deputy Soulsby said there would be no party whip, suggesting instead that each member will be "voting independently but with shared values and for the good of Guernsey."

“We know we won’t agree on every policy. That doesn’t matter; what matters is our pledge to accept and implement majority decisions," she said.

"We share the frustrations of many islanders who see, time and again, efforts at progress dragged back for debate many times over – wasting time and sometimes never reaching a satisfactory conclusion."

Deputy Trott said the partnership will promote effective and timely government and that each candidate has pledged to invest in the States' Revive and Thrive Strategy, which was headed up by Deputies St Pier and Trott. 

Pictured: Deputy Gavin St Pier, Heidi Soulsby and Lyndon Trott have all featured on the corona virus panel, and they say they have "successfully guided Guernsey through the pandemic" as part of their launch media release. 

“Guernsey is extremely well equipped to build back better but to do so we need to do three things – invest, be bold and stay competitive," said Deputy Trott. "That is how we create and maintain jobs and ensure a strong economy. 

“That is how we are able to invest in public services and that is why putting the economy front and centre is the most important step to enable us to revive and thrive.

“We look forward to hearing from anyone thinking of standing in the election who would be willing to work with us and to pledge to the values and objectives to which all our candidates are committed.”