CHIEF Minister Lyndon Trott will not deliver his ‘State of the States’ speech after the Policy Council bowed to pressure from backbenchers.

The speech, which was published in full in yesterday’s Guernsey Press after it had been emailed to all deputies, sparked considerable disquiet from the majority of the Assembly, who wanted the concept thought through more.

A Policy Council spokesman said yesterday: ‘Following the publication of the statement in today’s Guernsey Press and quotes from it in other media, ministers were unanimous in their decision that they would no longer direct the chief minister to seek to read it in the Assembly this week. The Policy Council looks forward to meaningful dialogue with the States Assembly and Constitution Committee in the new year in connection with such statements and other matters.’

The committee wrote to the chief minister after the intention to deliver the speech was announced, calling for him not to give it.

Deputy Matt Fallaize then gathered the signatures of 24 deputies who backed the committee’s stance – at that stage another three ministers were also believed to have been against the speech being made. He welcomed yesterday’s announcement that it would not go ahead.