This Is Guernsey

By Simon Tostevin

POLITICS driven by personalities is destabilising the make-up of the States, according to its youngest member. In announcing he would not be standing in April’s general election, Duncan Staples, 32, hit out at the decision-making of some his colleagues.

He said putting his wife and daughter first was the principal reason for his decision to step down, but that the environment he had come to work in was now being driven by deputies making decisions for the wrong reasons.

‘There have been occasions over the past four years when I think decisions have been made and things have been said which have less to do with policy and more to do with personality.

‘That’s not an appropriate way to go about anything.

‘And the fact that people will allow that to cloud their judgement is a rather sad indictment of some of the politicians in the current assembly.

‘That’s been my biggest grievance in the last four years - the behaviour of some politicians. A handful of them have pursued their aims in ways that I think are less than honourable.’

Deputy Staples was the Commerce and Employment spokesman during the problems suffered by the Dairy in March 2006 when workers went on strike over proposed changes in the processing of milk.

He said the criticism suffered by him and the department then had played no significant part in his decision to not seek re-election.

But he still expected changes at the Dairy.

‘I would not be in the least bit surprised that everything recommended by the Commerce and Employment Department is introduced by one means or another in the next 10 years.

‘And I would hope operational changes at the Dairy would be introduced far sooner than that, but that’s something that the next Commerce and Employment board will have to look at,’ he said.

Deputy Staples does not rule out standing again but it would have to be at least eight or 12 years later when the impact on his family from him being in the public eye would be less.

He also wanted to thank those from the Vale who had voted him in four years ago.

‘It’s a tremendous opportunity that not many people get the chance to enjoy. It’s certainly allowed me to grow as a person.’

He also had advice for any 20-somethings looking to stand in April.

‘You have to mature very quickly in the job and my advice would be to seek a seat on the Scrutiny Committee. I learnt far more on Scrutiny than I did doing anything else in the States.

‘You analyse policy to a depth that ordinary States members don’t necessarily do. And the civil servants there are fantastic.’