Former deputy chief minister Bernard Flouquet, left, and current Treasury minister Lyndon Trott seem certain to be the main contenders for the chief minister slot. Deputy Flouquet would look to nominate Deputy Charles Parkinson to the Treasury role. (Picture by Daniel Guerin, 0269391)
Lyndon Trott and Bernard Flouquet will fight it out to be chief minister. Both confirmed their nomination yesterday in a day of political twists and turns.
Deputy Flouquet appeared to be in the stronger position initially – he will be proposed by Deputy Charles Parkinson, who should bring with him a range of the new faces in support.
But winning would be an extraordinary coup for Deputy Flouquet, who failed twice in the last term to take the chief minister’s job. Frantic action behind the scenes saw the Flouquet/ Parkinson partnership having letters sent out to new deputies within hours of the results being declared.
They have also lined up a meeting for today with the new States after it is sworn in.
Deputy Parkinson is widely expected to take the Treasury minister’s job that he chased in the previous House.
Early yesterday, others were also being talked about as possible chief minster contenders, including deputies Geoff Mahy, Peter Sirett and Hunter Adam.
In a frank interview yesterday morning, Deputy Mahy effectively ruled himself out as he expressed severe doubts that he had the experience to do the job or the financial background it also needed.
That did not put off a string of political movers worried about how things were shaping from lobbying him to change his mind. But by the afternoon it emerged that he would propose Deputy Trott, with Deputy Sirett seconding that.
Deputy Trott said he believed he had the passion and enthusiasm to further shape and modernise the States in order to bring about much-desired joined-up government.
‘I’ve got two key aims – focusing on planning for a sustainable future for everyone, and I mean everyone in Guernsey, and delivering better government for islanders,’ he said.
As Treasury minister, he was closely associated with zero-10 tax reform.
‘I have a proven track record of delivering complex policies in an increasingly complex world.’
Deputy Flouquet was deputy chief minister in the first half of the previous term before losing his seat on the Policy Council following Fallagate. ‘I believe the support I had in 2004 has not disappeared from the body politick. I’m hopeful with the 26 returned deputies, I will have a core of support,’ he said.
Outgoing deputy chief minister Stuart Falla’s shadow looms large over the whole process, with deputies Flouquet and Mahy saying they would have endorsed him had he stood.
Deputy Flouquet said the political landscape had changed since his unsuccessful bids.
Deputy Parkinson has a considerable mandate from the South-East electorate.
He said he did not want the top job because he was more suited to the role at Treasury.
‘I think Deputy Flouquet is a sufficiently neutral character in terms of the politics of the last House that you would hope all the factions could unite behind him,’ said Deputy Parkinson.
Deputy Mahy said he was content to continue his work leading the Home Department.
‘There are one or two people who are more experienced than me in political expertise,’ said Deputy Mahy.
‘There are also some people who are more knowledgeable than me when it comes to financial matters and taxation issues.’
Article posted on 25th April, 2008 - 2.29pm
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4 Article Comments
Lyndon Trott managed to blag his way through to the Treasury so no doubt he’ll fooll everyone into believing he can be Chief Minister too.
Oh dear.
It is nice to see that Wendy Morgan has been voted out and will not get the chance to run for the top job. She has tried to ruin Education in the Island by introducing student loans and trying to close St Andrews school. She didn’t and does not represent the people and this has finally been shown. It is good to see she will not get into a position of power and destroy anymore of our Island! Either Deputy Lyndon Trott or Deputy Bernard Flouquet will be a far better choice than her.
Tragic. What a bad day for Guernsey and what in the world does Parkinson think he is doing to his reputation. Its a dumb position anyway so I suppose its a pity both cannot fill the role.
Student - in Wendy Morgan’s defence what did you want her (and the rest of the Education Department) to do - cut the budget for the rest of the schools by the £2+ million needed? And what exactly is wrong with closing a school that is too small to have the facilities that other schools have?
Bear in mind that the Education budget has effectively been cut in real terms over the past couple of years - but no doubt you’d be among the fist to criticise it for an overspend on its budget if it tried to continue all of its services with no increase in funding!
If you think you can do better perhaps we’ll see you standing in the next election…