CHIEF MINISTER Laurie Morgan has signalled a new dawn for the island. He said that respect for the States had been ‘sadly lacking’ over the last few years.

To overturn that, his prime objectives were progress on the education redevelopment and corporate housing programmes and the anti-poverty strategy, all plans started by the States.

‘I will expect the Policy Council to endorse those three programmes and work to continue them so that, by the end of this States, these things may not have been completed, but a lot of progress will have been made and we will have achieved something for the community and earned their respect, which has been sadly lacking,’ he said.

In his speech to the States, he said: ‘The outgoing States has been criticised for not doing enough and I have no doubt that this States will not be exempt from similar criticism. But I am convinced that we can do better with our new system of government.’

Deputy Morgan said that he expected half of his new role would involve international negotiations – a job he had carried out with some success as president of the Advisory and Finance Committee.

Deputy Morgan, 73, a States member for 16 years, narrowly defeated Deputy Bernard Flouquet in the battle for the chief minister position.

After a second ballot, he won by 26 votes to 19.

He denied accusations that he represented the old guard in the States and that, as a result, nothing would change.

He said that he felt ‘invigorated and liberated’.

Had he lost, Deputy Morgan, A and F president for the last seven years, would have almost certainly settled for life as a backbencher.

‘I’m not sure that I would have gone for any other ministerial appointment. I would have taken that as an indication to step aside, though I would have continued as a States member, and not seek a ministerial position.

‘This was the one job I felt I could do and should do for the next four years and I have had the most enormous amount of support – some from the most unusual quarters.’

Deputy Flouquet said he would wish to be deputy chief minister when ministerial elections are held tomorrow at another special sitting of the States

‘I hope the States see that while I tried to obtain that position, I have the qualities to complement the chief minister himself.’

He was gracious in defeat.

‘There have to be losers; there were three very good candidates. Every individual had the opportunity to put themselves forward and I’m pleased Laurie Morgan got the position. I will work to support him as I have in the past.’

*Deputy Peter Roffey denied rumours that he and Deputy Morgan had struck a deal whereby he would take over as chief minister in two years’ time.

At the start of his speech in the States, Deputy Roffey said that no such arrangement had been agreed and, indeed, was impossible because the States would have to choose the next chief minister.