Deputy Laurie Morgan is Guernsey’s new chief minister. He won a three-cornered competition during this morning’s historic first meeting of the new-look House.

The election went to a second ballot when Deputy Morgan topped the first vote, but failed to poll more than half of the votes cast.

In the first ballot Deputy Morgan polled 22 votes, with contenders Deputies Bernard Flouquet and Mike Torode polling 18 and 6 votes respectively.

Deputy Torode was eliminated from the second vote, which ended with Deputy Morgan polling 26 votes and Deputy Flouquet, 19.

The meeting began with the 45 new deputies taking the oath of allegiance, after which members heard speeches from the three candidates and their proposers.

The States’ next major task is to appoint the heads and members of the 10 new departments, as well as a deputy chief minister and a finance minister.

They will do this at a meeting on Tuesday.

A full report on the election and an interview with Deputy Morgan will be published in the Guernsey Press and Star on Monday