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Who's up for a game of musical chairs?

Who's up for a game of musical chairs?

Friday 25 November 2022

Who's up for a game of musical chairs?

Friday 25 November 2022


There looks set to be a shuffle within the States as attention turns to filling vacancies on Education, Sport and Culture, and the Development and Planning Authority.

Currently only four of the thirty eight deputies are without any committee role at all.

They are Deputies Heidi Soulsby, Gavin St Pier, Lyndon Trott, and Chris Le Tissier, meaning these four could be seen as ideal candidates for the three vacancies.

Electing any of them to the three vacant committee positions would reduce the need to shuffle around other States members, relieving them of current responsibilities and electing others to replace them.

However, Deputy St Pier has already ruled himself out of the running for any of the vacancies, while Deputy Le Tissier said he hasn't yet thought about it.

Deputy Soulsby has said she has not yet had time to think about future committee roles after only leaving P&R on Wednesday of this week.

Deputy Trott had not yet replied to an Express request for information at the time of publication.

Heidi Soulsby Lyndon Trott Gavin st pier Chris le Tissier

Pictured (l-r): Deputies Heidi Soulsby, Lyndon Trott, Gavin St Pier, and Chris Le Tissier.

With time, money, resources and many other pressures facing the States, we considered what could each of these four bring to the roles available on ESC or the DPA if they were to be nominated: 

Deputy Soulsby 

She's just stood down from her role as Vice President of the Committee for Policy and Resources, which made her Guernsey's first female deputy Chief Minister. She's also often seen as a likely candidate to be the first female Chief Minister too. However, after two years on P&R, Deputy Soulsby resigned saying she isn't listened to.

Before that, she was President of Health and Social Care between 2016 and 2020, and led the island through the covid pandemic. Before HSC she had been on the Public Accounts Committee since her election in 2012. 

Her resignation from P&R means she is now without any committee responsibilities, and possibly her lightest workload since early 2012. 

Deputy Soulsby said she has not yet had time to consider the vacant positions, adding "there is time to consider". 

Deputy Trott

He is one of the most experienced politicians in Guernsey currently in the States.

Having been elected to the States in 2000, Deputy Trott's continuous length of service is currently only second to that of Deputy John Gollop.

In 2004 he was elected Treasury and Resources Minister, he was Chief Minister between 2008 and 2012, and was Vice President of Policy and Resources between 2016 and 2020.

In between those spells of high office, Deputy Trott has a tendency to keep a lower profile. He's been a backbencher since the 2020 election, and was similarly in the wings between 2012 and 2016. He is busy with other roles including as Chair of Guernsey Finance.

Deputy St Pier

First elected to the States of Guernsey in 2012, he served as Treasury and Resources Minister for four years, before being re-elected to the States and taking on the role of Chief Minister in 2016. 

Leading the island through the Covid pandemic secured Deputy St Pier almost 14,000 votes at the first island wide election in 2020, at which he had campaigned saying he would seek re-election to the Policy and Resources Presidency. He lost out on that internal election, and numerous others, and has been on the back benches ever since. 

Just this week he challenged Deputy Bob Murray for election to the vacant seat on Policy and Resources, but that wasn't to be, meaning for now he remains a backbencher. He told Express that is where he will be staying too. 

"Having now put myself forward for election to four committees during this political term, it is quite clear that the majority in this current Assembly do not want me to serve on a committee," he said. 

“I made clear when standing for the vacancy on P&R, that if not elected, then I will continue to serve in my current role as a member-without-portfolio, providing active scrutiny and challenge as a backbencher.  This is a role I've essentially carved out for myself during this term and which I am thoroughly enjoying."

Deputy Le Tissier

First elected in 2020, he has spent a year of his political career since then in suspension.

He was found to have 'trolled' members of the public and other politicians using a fake Twitter profile and lost a code of conduct appeal, and was given a year long, unpaid, suspension from the States as a result.

Prior to that he had been on the Committee for Home Affairs, and had been a member of the Guernsey Party. Both of those affiliations ceased as a result of the Twitter-scandal. 

He told Express: "I have not  as yet  considered the  question. No doubt I will before the deadline for expressing interest arrives."

deputy Andy Taylor bob murray

Pictured: The shuffle of States members has been sparked by Deputy Andy Taylor resigning from the DPA and Deputy Bob Murray being elected to P&R creating an additional vacancy on the DPA and one on ESC.

Of the other 34 deputies within the States some have multiple committee roles, while others have seats on more minor authorities.

Deputy Andy Taylor, having resigned from his role on the DPA may find he has time to take on additional responsibilities with ESC alongside his committee role on Home Affairs.

Deputy David de Lisle is a member of the Transport Licensing Authority, seen as a 'minor' commitment by some. Deputy Charles Parkinson - a former Treasury and Resources Minister - is currently Vice President of the States Trading Supervisory Body, with no other current committee roles.

The two Alderney representatives in the States of Guernsey currently have committee responsibilities too, but their positions are themselves up for election at the Alderney Plebiscite next month.

Alex Snowdon and Steve Roberts could be re-elected to another two year term representing Alderney in Guernsey, or they could be replaced by two new Alderney States Members.

Alderney Reps. Steve Roberts & Alex Snowdon

Pictured: The States of Alderney representatives in the States of Guernsey are Steve Roberts and Alex Snowdon.

The Plebiscite is due to be held on Saturday 10 December at Alderney's Island Hall. 

Anyone over the age of 16, who is on the electoral roll in Alderney can vote. 

Nominations of current States Members, to represent the island in Guernsey, can be cast until Saturday 26 November.

If Alex Snowdon and Steve Roberts are not re-elected to their positions on the States of Guernsey then replacements will be needed to take on Alderney States Member Snowdon's place on the Committee for Health and Social Care, and Alderney States Member Robert's place on the Transport Licensing Authority.  

 

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