MINISTERS have some serious thinking to do. By voting to ignore the findings of the Wales Audit Office 0/10 critique of the States’ ability to operate efficiently, they have marginalised themselves from mainstream Guernsey.

That became even clearer in the aftermath of last week’s Institute of Directors debate in which the heads of the G4 representative business groups queued up to demand action.

Their language, as we reported on Saturday and more fully today, is uncharacteristically blunt. Look, they are saying, this isn’t going away. You have to act and act now.

Neither is it some idle or academic call to arms – business leaders generally do not call upon islanders to support their lobby efforts – but it is one based on concerns that the external threats facing the island are real, immediate and will require swift and decisive responses if we are to have any chance of seeing them off.

And not even the most vocal supporter of the present system could say that it is speedy – the delay in getting the airport open after industrial action and the demand to spend £250,000 on a witch-hunt are ample proof of that.

So what next?

Giba, the finance representative body, has laid down a challenge: ‘I believe that the reactions of our present deputies will be judged by everyone over the coming weeks and months against the clear call to action from the population,’ said its chairman, Paul Meader.

Ministers have made it clear, by a majority, that they want no action. They are marginalised and other States members are increasingly recognising that there is guilt by association: to be seen to be in the Policy Council camp is not only out of step with public opinion but completely counter to what the island needs from a government under external pressure.

The Treasury minister reflected last week that politicians are no longer held in esteem. Sadly, while he and others may well deserve respect and admiration, it is the collective actions of ‘the States’ acting badly or perversely that ensures they do not earn it.

The WAO naysayers on the Policy Council and the incredulity and anger that has provoked, as evidenced at the IoD debate, is merely a case in point.

Ministers need an urgent, face saving U-turn – or else experience reputational extinction as the Assembly takes this crucial matter out of their hands.