New deputy as chief minister is a non-starter, says Torode
Wednesday 20th April 2011, 2:29PM BST.
THE idea that a newly-elected politician could take on the role of chief minister is ridiculous, according to one former holder of the post.
A proposal to abolish the rule which states a chief minister candidate must have served as a deputy for at least four years in the last eight, will be debated in the States next month.
But Mike Torode (pictured) said a new member would not have the political experience to carry out the chief minister’s first job: to put forward their nominations for the other ministerial roles.
‘I don’t see how anyone who is newly elected and found their way into the role of chief minister can select their ministers when they have not worked with them,’ he said.
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More guff from Guernsey’s very own self-styled monarch.
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Using similar logic to Mike Torodes I don’t see how anyone can vote for a prospective deputy when they have not worked with them.
I think Mike Torode has forgotten that intelligent people usually make intelligent choices and his statement is an insult to the intelligence of the elector and elected alike.
This sort of comment could only come from a person who mistakenly believes his intelligence is higher than those around him.
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So what happens if us voters vote hands up for newbies only and they all get in?
You never know, it could happen!
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soph
On the basis that around 75% of current Ministers are not standing apparently, I’d say it was probable rather than possible !
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GM. That’s good news then!
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So – if (say) Gordon Brown or Tony Blair, David Cameron or Cleggy were to retire here, they couldn’t go straight in as Chief Minister, because they would lack “political experience” as a recent deputy?
Similarly a former deputy, conseiller or douzaine rep. that had been out of politics for ten years or so, but had kept in touch with events privately and publicly? Maybe a recently retired senior civil servant or prominent businessman used to wheeling and dealing.
Arrogant, patronising, protectionist nonsense from MT.
Wouldn’t the deputies (and ministers) be electing the CM, then, and horsetrading for jobs? I would think the weak would be unlikely to get much support.
This just smacks of fear that an establishment candidate mightn’t get the job.
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“So – if (say) Gordon Brown or Tony Blair, David Cameron or Cleggy were to retire here, they couldn’t go straight in as Chief Minister”
Bob – I was opposed to Mike Torode until I read that comment but now his idea doesn’t sound so bad! ;-)
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The GP has a habit of rolling out yesterday’s men. Whatever anyone thought of Roger Berry (senior) he stayed true to his word when he said that retirement meant exactly that ~ retirement.
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Paul Le Page;
So in your way of thinking, never mind what the PEOPLE decide, a long ago HAS_BEEN stirs the soup and Voila a magic wand arises.
For goodness sake: remember Torode’s term of office, and be grateful it’s over.
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It’s not that Mike Torode is entirely wrong on this issue: for once, he isn’t.
What is wrong is that arbitrary rule about who may or may not be Chief Minister.
Mike is right to think that in most circumstances a deputy with recent experience would probably be the best choice.
He is wrong to think that there are no circumstances in which someone without that experience could be the best choice. So why have a rule which intrudes upon the ability of deputies to make a decision?
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David Cranch;
I respect your posting, (should be more)
However may I ask you if you would allow a trainee to operate on your heart?
You will understand that I think of Guernsey, as a patient badly needing an operation.
So we need learned people, not trainees.
How about you? after all you do have the know-how.
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Islander
Ok, lets take your analogy a little further.
Guernsey is on life support and only a Heart Operation can save its life, but none of the established surgeons have the ability to perform the operation.
Suddenly a brilliant young surgeon appears with the skill to perform the operation, but could be considered “wet behind the ears”.
Who would you want having a crack?? Someone who cant do it, or someone who might be able to if given the chance?
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Mick never solved the abandoned car problem nor thought of new speed limits,Frances or John would make excellent Prime Ministers.
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Islander.
If you had been in and out of hospital for 20 years being treated by the “learned people” and you were getting sicker, would’nt you want the new wizz kid to have a look?
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Islander is making the same mistake as Mike Torode by concentrating on one particular aspect of the Chief Minister post.
Mike Torode was panicking about the need to nominate the other ministers requiring the requisite experience.
I venture to suggest that just shows he himself was probably unsuitable for the post. Someone without the relevant knowledge, but with the ability to do the job would, I suggest, consult senior civil servants and selected deputies and, drawing on their experience, would soon arrive at a list of nominations.
If Mike would object that he still would not know if he could work with all of them, well, I don’t think anyone with a marked inability to get on with all types would get elected as Chief Minister.
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Surely a key point that’s being missed is that the current job description isn’t right. The only way to cover the duties properly is to split the role between (a) the Chief Minister being effectively an “executive chairman” and (b) a Foreign Affairs Minister to represent us on the international stage.
It is extremely unlikely that the same single candidate will have the necessary skills or personality to carry out both roles effectively. Either they will fall short domestically or they will not be able or willing to do the external PR role for a variety of reasons.
I believe that if the role was split in this way then the number of good potential candidates for both roles would rise substantially. If the status quo remains then we will end up with a significant compromise, either domestically or internationally or probably both.
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I’m sorry that you think I concentrate on just the one aspect of the whole ‘Jumble sale*
In reality It was because of the manner of that ONE person bringing up the subject:
It was that to which I replied. others items were on another series of postings.
However so far no damage done, and I apologise if my post was mistaken.
Now then if I had to put my mark for a man whom I think could manage the post, and is in my opinion honest in any questions put him.
That man is Dep Fallaise
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