All change with 19 new faces in States

By Nick Mann

First-timer Matt Fallaize came top of the polls for the Vale district with the most votes of any candidate in yesterday’s general election. He is celebrating here with wife Nicci. (Picture by John O’Neill, 0568757)

ISLANDERS voted 19 new faces into the States yesterday in one of the biggest changes ever seen.

But despite this fresh blood, electors actually showed restraint because only two sitting deputies were ousted – Brian De Jersey in the Vale and Wendy Morgan in St Peter Port North, who paid the price for her stance on student loans.

Treasury minister Lyndon Trott and Housing minister Dave Jones were returned with significantly reduced numbers of votes as islanders indicated their sense of frustration over the performance of the last administration.

There were some surprises during a day in which turnout generally was down. First-time candidates Matt Fallaize and Peter Gillson topped the polls in the Vale and St Sampson’s respectively and zero-10 critic Deputy Charles Parkinson received a ringing endorsement of his views in polling 2,256 votes to top the South-East.

It remains to be seen what such a large change in membership will mean for the States, especially with so many pledging to ‘tweak’ zero-10.

Big challenges also lie ahead over population growth and spending.

And much will depend on the make-up of the new Policy Council.

Deputy Morgan was seen as a candidate for the chief minister’s job.

Her departure leaves Deputy Trott as one of the favourites alongside current Home Department minister Geoff Mahy, who would not rule himself out of running yesterday.

Deputy Bernard Flouquet finished only sixth in the Castel but has already declared his intention to challenge for the job.

Deputy Trott had been nervous about his chances of re-election having faced the flak following the introduction of the Policy Council’s new tax strategy. ‘I’m genuinely amazed at my result,’ he said.

The new States will elect a chief minster next Thursday, before deciding on who will be ministers and chairmen on Tuesday 6 May and the remaining positions on Thursday 8 May.

Full results may be found in our Election section