Originally billed as an all-day event, it was reduced to a half-day due to both Parkinson and St Pier dropping out to back De Sausmarez, who won by a landslide: 21 votes to Helyar’s 11 and Le Tocq’s 7. This marks the first time the poll-topper has succeeded in getting the top job. Given the decisiveness of the vote and that Parkinson will finally have a chance to be Treasury Minister again in all but name and Gavin can get back into P&R without spearheading a turf war, I think it will calm down a lot.
I spent lunch with Andy Cameron, Marc Leadbeater, Aidan Matthews, John Gollop, Lee Van Katwyk and David Goy.
Prediction for tomorrow – members of P&R
Lindsay will have her picks, including her two backers. She made a subtle nod in her answer to Chris Blin’s question on the offshore wind farm project that she appreciated the current expertise and wanted it to continue, perhaps indicating that she would support Blin remaining chair (which would require him to continue in his overseas aid capacity on P&R or for the wind farm sub-committee to be given to Economic Development, which Blin will bid for the presidency of but it will be contested) and/or Carl Meerveld returning in a voluntary non-voting capacity. Yvonne Burford now wants the DPA (planning) presidency and Paul Montague doesn’t want to be on P&R for fear he will end up negotiating pay for teachers from the wrong side. So that means the finance technocrats like Andy Sloan, Jennifer Strachan, Sally Rochester, David Dorrity and Andy Niles will likely stand (whether as part of LDS’s picks or not). Lee Van Katwyk wants to stand for Overseas Aid but is likely a better fit for E&I. David Goy is tempted to throw his hat into the P&R ring for IT oversight and alternative revenue streams through taxation of corporate loans, personal investment vehicles and the like. Marc Lainé could stand to be in P&R but I think he has his eyes on STSB.
So we might have the following standing for P&R membership tomorrow:
- Charles Parkinson
- Gavin St. Pier
- Jonathan Le Tocq
- Chris Blin
- Lee Van Katwyk
- David Goy
- Andy Sloan
- Jennifer Strachan
- Sally Rochester
- David Dorrity
- Marc Lainé
That’s eleven for four seats. The president candidates were asked by George Oswald if they would be open to more seats being made available on P&R. Lindsay said no, in favour of more sub-committees. Looks like there’s going to be a Treasury or Public Accounts sub-committee as a result.
Tune back in tomorrow for the second half of P&R results and my predictions for the other presidency contests.
Tom Moore for Deputy 