HEALTH minister Peter Roffey is leaving the States. Speaking to the Guernsey Press yesterday he confirmed for the first time that he would not be seeking re-election.
‘It was the world’s worst kept secret. When I stood in 2000 it was always my intention, if I was lucky enough to get in, that I would do two four-year terms.
‘I think I have done my tour of duty now.’
Although Deputy Roffey, 49, believed it was known he would not be standing, he was still being widely touted as one of the favourites for chief minister in the next House.
‘I did stand last time round but I’ve always made it clear that it’s not a job I was always inclined to do.’
In some ways, he viewed the position as a demotion, because the head of the Policy Council missed out on the day-to-day decision-making involved in running departments.
Deputy Roffey added that the thought of too much ‘glad-handing’ would also not sit too easily with him.
And he insists that his decision has not been driven by any events in the past four years.
‘I’ve been 99% sure for a couple of years, but I was always going to use Christmas and New Year to make absolutely certain.
‘You can’t sign up for just one year, you have to do the four.’
He first won a seat in the States back in 1982, when he was just 23. He served three terms before leaving in 1991. Between that time and standing again in 2000, he spent eight years as a local political journalist.
‘I think I need to join the real world again. I’ve been living and breathing politics in one way or another for 26 years.
‘I’ve not got a clue what I will do now. I will be looking at the vacancies section with great interest over the next couple of months.’
Although he has come under fire from time to time for some of his outspoken views, Deputy Roffey said he would miss the job and has not ruled out making a return to the States.
‘I will particularly miss Health and Social Services. But even if I had been standing again, I would not have been looking to carry on in that job.
‘There was always a rule of mine that two terms in a particular job were sufficient and then it was time for new ideas.’
* Deputy Roffey joins fellow deputies Dan Le Cheminant, Ron Le Moignan, Eric Walters, Martin Ozanne, Mike Torode and Bill Bell in confirming that he will not stand.
Article posted on 22nd January, 2008 - 12.00am
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