Do not call me Mr President, says Trott
Monday 28th September 2009, 2:29PM BST.
THE chief minister does not want to be known as President Lyndon Trott.
And he has warned that using the title could upset the royal family and any future Conservative government.
The States Assembly and Constitution Committee’s attempt to scrap the title of minister is expected to be debated tomorrow.
But Deputy Trott (pictured) will be away at the Labour Party Conference when this week’s extended States meeting begins so he has outlined his views in an email to deputies.
‘In British constitutional practice, the term president is usually used in the context of describing a role such as president of the Executive Council,’ he said.
‘However, this title is almost always changed to governor, again to avoid constitutional misunderstandings. The monarch is the head of state, so it is seen as constitutionally improper to refer to a president as well.
‘If the adoption of the title president took place it would be likely to create confusion around Guernsey’s constitutional status and potential displeasure in Westminster, Whitehall and the royal household.’
He argued that the status quo should be maintained to avoid confusing islanders still getting used to the changes brought in 2004.
It would also maintain international understanding, he added.
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If the Labour party lose the next election; will it also mean that the labour lover Troptt will also go ?
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There are many things I can think of to call him – President is certainly not one of them!
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Oh yes Golden Brown<.
I agree.
YET I PREFER TO SAY HAS BEEN!
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Fuerher,il duce, khan,citizen trott or whatever. i’m sure they are all names he’s toyed with in front of the bathroom mirror the best one would be ex states member ,to go with ex fisherman and ex finance worker ,at the end of it all why ,in guernsey do we worry so much what the english government or the monarchy think of us when really all they need to be told is to wind their neck in and get on with their own business the sooner we rid ourselves of this blatant jingoism the better
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arapaho.
Friend for life:
I try but you have written all that I think.
problem is they think they’re the cats whiskers,
where in fsct they are at the wrong end.
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I hope that his jolly to Brighton is not funded by the Tax payer.
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Well that’s it: I’ve been warned off, and I must say it was not by the Press, but others have taken offence, at my answers.
They can give it, but not take it.
So folks no more from me.
ah well I’m back in 1943. they still rule_
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Were people seriously thinking of calling him President Trott, rather than President of the Policy Council. The latter is okay because it is descriptive of the true nature of his position.
Minister and Chief Minister are definitely wrong.
Why not revert to Conseiller for the heads of Committees?
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Personally I see nothing wrong with Minister and Chief Minister and don’t know why SACC want to debate such a minor matter when the Island has much bigger problems to deal with. Hopefully the States will see sense and debate this for a matter of minutes and leave it well alone.
Trottsky and hasn’t done much wrong as CM has he? He appears to have represented the Island well although I would like him and all the others who supported the incinerator to be voted out next time.
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Hi Russ
I agree that Lyndon appears to have represented the Island well but I am concerned that he has mis-represented himself.
The title “Chief Minister” would imply to many people that Lyndon holds a position of power (perhaps some think it is the same as “Prime Minister”?).
For Lyndon to say that he wants to avoid confusing islanders..how patronising can you get?
As Lyndon’s position is “head” of the Policy Council, why not call the position “Chairman of the Policy Council”? This avoids the use of “President” and encapsulates the position neatly.
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Introducing yourself as ‘chairman of the policy council’ to people outside Guernsey would mean nothing. The fact is we have to deal more frequently internationally and it makes sense to have simple titles that people understand. Minister and CM are fine and far better than SACCs suggestion that would have 11 presidents and 11 deputy presidents – how ridiculous is that.
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So Mr Trott does not want to be called president, he would just rather consider himself on the same footing as Barack Obama who also uses a blackberry in his ‘States Meetings’
When is this self important little man going to realise that he is the chief clerk of a governing body little bigger than a market town in the uk, no matter what he or his fellow members call themselves the civil service run the island.
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I really don’t care what he calls himself. What worries me is that the States have dedicated time to this ‘debate’ when they should be making decisions on education, finance, environment, in fact anything but meaningless titles.
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Ooh say can you see, by the Trott’s early light
What so proudly we hailed at the runway’s last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and pot holes thru the perilous flight,
From Brussels we watched him so gallantly streaming?
And the Dave Jones’ red glare, De Lisle bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that Tribal Helm are still there.
Oh, say does that President Trott still save
The land of the banks and the home of the whingers?
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if the title is to clearly state what it is they do then as a consensus government maybe they could be called ,Deputy so and so chairman/vice-chairman of the policy council/housing dept or whatever.seems clear to me and nobody is being called sometjhing they are not.
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