A DECISION will be made soon on changing rules that prevent nearly half the current States standing for chief minister. The issue has come to a head with the impending resignation of Deputy Laurie Morgan in the fallout from Fallagate.

Before the end of the States meeting yesterday, Deputy Rhoderick Matthews raised the issue with Bailiff Geoffrey Rowland.

Last year the House decided that only someone who had been a deputy for four years could stand for the top job.

That rules out not only members in their first term, but also those who had served as douzaine representatives in the previous House. Deputy Matthews told the House that he understood Chief Minister Laurie Morgan had not yet handed in his letter of resignation, but if it was accepted, there would be an election for the job.

‘I was not present at the debate that passed this rule, but I don’t believe it envisaged these circumstances when it was agreed,’ said Deputy Matthews.

‘It disqualifies 20 out of 45 deputies now sitting from holding the office of chief minister. That includes one minister and no less than five deputy ministers.’

Some members may want to nominate one or more of these for chief minister, he added.

The issue needed to be dealt with before the debate on the job, he said.

Mr Rowland said that careful consideration needed to be given to changing the rule.

‘It seems to me the House should proceed with the greatest of care when thinking in terms of amending it to suit certain circumstances,’ he said.

‘It shouldn’t be rushed, but that’s not to say it’s not a relevant matter to be raising.’

The rule could be revoked, he said.

House Committee chairman Deputy Dan Le Cheminant said after the debate that it was arranging a meeting to discuss the issue.

Commerce and Employment minister Stuart Falla is one of those who is barred from being chief minister.

He did not, however, support the change.

‘If the rules are there, they are there,’ he said.

‘I have offered my resignation without debate and unless the regime changed, I would not wish to work within it.’

Whether he stood as minister again would depend on which new people put themselves forward for the position of chief minister, he added.

Barry Brehaut said that he did not have a preferred choice for candidate if the States decided to replace Deputy Morgan.

‘The Policy Council needs the most capable of people on it and some of the most capable people have been in the chamber for less than four years,’ said Deputy Brehaut.

He did not support the four-year rule.

‘The main observation of the Wales Audit Office was the lack of focus and direction and more to the point discipline in the Policy Council. You need people in there that have who have real experience of getting on with strategic issues but also man management skills, people that could work with other people.’

He added there could be an outstanding candidate in the next general election who would be barred from standing for chief minister.

‘I think last time, for example, we voted for a Social Security minister, a Culture and Leisure minister, and that was short-sighted.

‘We should have been thinking are these the best strategic thinkers addressing where is Guernsey going rather than what is my department doing.’