Back from a solitary lunch (deputies have to prioritise getting on the committees over talking to non-deputies at the moment), we were launched straight into the contest for the presidency of Home Affairs.
Home Affairs – Marc Leadbeater was very strong and measured in answering questions, Simon Vermeulen was surprisingly weak (I don’t think public speaking is his strong point) and Jane Ozanne was very on top of her brief for someone who has never been on the committee, possibly as researched as one can be without having ever been a deputy or voluntary non-voting member previously. Let’s not forget that P&R was backing Marc Leadbeater, so that’s 6 votes already, including himself. The results reflected that and the performances – ML 22, SV 4, JO 11. On reflection, I think JO and ML are both aligned just enough for JO to join the committee as vice president. However, if SV joins, there will be a lack of cohesion within the committee. I don’t know what SV’s Plan B is.
Housing – Steve Williams was the official and only candidate. Absolutely the right choice, in opinion. Has the necessary experience, attitude and drive to achieve results.
Scrutiny – Dr Andy Sloan (esteemed economist who has previously worked for the States as a consultant in his field) was the official candidate. Aidan Matthews proposed John Gollop and gave him a comprehensive endorsement, citing how well-known and popular John is with the public (albeit irrelevant) and all the States committees, boards, authorities, sub-committees, etcetera that he has been involved in or otherwise been instrumental in to date, everything he has led and John’s recent tenure as a douzenier. He went on to say that John has been the most prolific questioner in every term since he first got elected. If anyone has earned a position, it’s John with this one. Lindsay made faces throughout both the endorsement and John’s pitch. Shows of collaboration and cohesion work both ways, in my opinion.
Sloan might be sleek but he didn’t have enough knowledge to answer most questions (and none were technical to catch him out) and John did very well. So at least 8 votes for Sloan (proposed by Yvonne Burford and seconded by Mark Helyar, neither in P&R), at least three votes for John (himself and his proposer and seconder). The result was Sloan’s 24 (69% the Assembly who voted) to John’s 11. I’m guessing this was down in part to following the official line and in part due to John’s unpopularity politically. The irony is that Sloan’s handling of scrutiny may make many deputies wish they had voted for John.
Developmental Planning Authority – Yvonne Burford was the official candidate with no challenges and a very good fit for the role, knowing it very well from when it was her domain within Environment & Infrastructure. Also, I admire anyone who is willing to take on that poisoned chalice.
Oversees Aid – Chris Blin was the previous postholder and I thought he may want to continue, receiving endorsement from LDS. Van Katwyck had voiced an interest in the role. I had not heard from or of anyone else interested. So imagine my complete surprise when P&R announced Jennifer Strachan as the official (and only – this role is appointed by P&R) candidate! LDS reported how JS had approached her with a detailed and well thought-out proposal as to how the role can be executed this term. Kudos to Jennifer!
States Assembly & Constitution Committee – Yvonne Burford had previously stated an interest for the presidency and I had lobbied John Gollop to stand for it but only the P&R-endorsed candidate came forward – Sarah Hansmann-Rouxel. She is a good fit, having worked on and had successes in the role previously.
States Trading & Supervisory Board – There were several contenders lined up for this originally. Marc Lainé, Neil Inder and Jennifer Strachan had all voiced interest in the presidency. There were several references to Mark Helyar being given it earlier in the day, both in private conversations and in official chamber dialogue. The STSB presidency has long been seen as the booby prize for unsuccessful P&R president candidates (former CM candidates too).
Where Mark Helyar is concerned, though, the role fits him like a glove. He’s not just a lawyer familiar with the machinery of government, he has been (and still is, in some cases) also a shareholder or director of several businesses. There were no challenges, so I suspect Neil stepped aside for his friend and JS has been promised other duties in addition to Overseas Aid in exchange for cohesion.
Transport Licensing Authority – This is the presidency nobody wants to have. It has too light a workload and any important pieces of work that should probably fall with it tend to go to Economic Development, P&R or E&I (think change of bus operator, the recent ferries debacle and anything involving existing or new air carriers not Aurigny, not to mention taxi licensing). In my opinion, it’s a regulatory body filled with politicians and should be folded into Economic Development and the Guernsey Competition & Regulatory Authority (a theoretically independent body that is controlled by Economic Development). John Gollop got given this presidency last term and was pleased to give it up when he got moved to P&R.
So it was already 17:25 at this point. The Bailliff put forward a procedural motion for continuing to fill this vacancy despite the official finishing time of 17:30, which was agreed by the Assembly so that all of the team negotiations could take place over the weekend. However, the Bailliff referred to the post as “key”, prompting chuckles all round. It is clearly his view too that this presidency is a non-event. He looked at John, so he obviously knew what was coming. LDS went on to propose Gollop and her pitch consisted of saying “This role isn’t a busy one. Aidan Matthews has already outlined John’s background and I have nothing to add”. I understand that people want to go home but at least compliment the man if you’re going to propose him! LDS is known to smile a lot but it was a mocking, loathing smile this time. I can’t be the only one who picked up on it.
Being given the TLA presidency is not only the booby prize to end all booby prizes, it’s also an insult, especially the manner in which it was given. It’s essentially tying John’s hands so he can’t stand to become a member of ED or E&I due to conflicts of interest. I still don’t know why John accepted the position. It’s like he’s given up on all dignity and self-respect. He started his acceptance speech with “I won’t keep you for the allotted ten minutes”, cue more laughter (including from me and a heckling of “guillotine!” because everyone wanted to go home and if he was accepting it, there was nothing really to say other than thanks to his endorsers. He continued, going off-topic for about five minutes, amid groans from people desperate to head home. Typical John. *sighs*
My predictions for the memberships of the various committees, boards and authorities
Note: Apologies if I have the number of seats wrong and if I missed out anyone’s preferences from their radio interviews or hustings I didn’t manage to attend.
Ecomomic Development
Pool of possible members: Chris Blin, David Goy, Simon Vermeulen, Sarah Hansmann-Rouxel, David Dorrity, Sally Rochester, Andy Niles, Bruno Kay-Mouat, Hayley Camp, Jennifer Strachan
Likely picks: CB (VP), HC, SHR
Education, Sport & Culture
Pool of possible members: Aidan Matthews, Sarah Hansmann-Rouxel, Rhona Humphreys, Andy Cameron
Likely picks: AM (VP), SHR, RH, AC
Employment & Social Security
Pool of possible members: Tom Rylatt, John Gollop, Jane Ozanne, Munazza Malik
Likely picks: TR, JG, JO, MM (no clear VP)
Environment & Infrastructure
Pool of possible members: Rhona Humphreys, Mark Helyar, Andy Niles, Lee Van Katwyk
Likely picks: AN (VP), RH, MH
Health & Social Care
Pool of possible members: Aidan Matthews, Munazza Malik, Marc Leadbeater, John Gollop, Jane Ozanne, Alex Snowdon
Likely picks: AM (VP), MM, Alx Snw
Home Affairs
Pool of possible members: Simon Vermeulen, Jane Ozanne, Liam McKenna, Munazza Malik, Rob Curgrnven, John Gollop
Likely picks: JO (VP), LMcK, RC
Housing
Pool of possible members: Rhona Humphreys, David Goy, Sasha Kesantseva-Miller, Neil Inder, Bruno Kay-Mouat, David Dorrity, Garry Collins
Likely picks: SKM (VP), DG, RH
Scrutiny
Pool of possible members: Tom Rylatt, John Gollop, David Goy
Likely picks: JG (VP), TR, DG
DPA
Pool of possible members: Sarah Hansmann-Rouxel, John Gollop, Steve Williams
Likely picks: SHR (VP), JG, SW
SACC
Pool of possible members: Tom Rylatt, Yvonne Burford, John Gollop
Likely picks: YB (VP), TR, JG
STSB
Pool of possible members: Hayley Camp, Bruno Kay-Mouat, Adrian Gabriel, Yvonne Burford, Neil Inder, Marc Lainé
Likely picks: NI or MLné (VP), HC, BKM, AG
TLA
Pool of possible members: Alex Snowdon (Alderney representative), Ed Hill (Alderney representative), David Goy, Neil Inder, Garry Collins
Likely picks: EH, DG, GC (VP)
Tom Moore for Deputy 