Chief minister wants younger members in the States

Saturday 4th February 2012, 2:29PM GMT.

Deputy Lyndon Trott has been nominated to serve a second term as chief minister.
Deputy Lyndon Trott has been nominated to serve a second term as chief minister.

MORE young people should be putting themselves up for election to the States, according to the chief minister.

Deputy Lyndon Trott said the States needed a broader age range to better reflect the island’s community.

‘We need more members in their 20s and 30s. There is no doubt that your views change as you mature and we need that broad variety.’

Deputy Trott, pictured, was speaking on a special Island FM programme where he took questions from the public.


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  1. 1
    danno

    I’ve had an idea, tell me if it works / if anyone has tried before:

    People could stand for deputy on the basis that they will do nothing, attend no meetings, make no decisions, but they will give their deputy’s salary in full to a named Guernsey charity.

    If someone is willing to do this they have my vote.

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  2. 2
    Sam

    Ah!
    Another profound statement by our Chief Minister.
    I would never have thought of that.

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  3. 3
    Renwick

    I actually think that Lyndon Trott has been a good chief minister. But there is a reason why “your change as you mature” which is that your understanding of the world deepens and becomes more nuanced.

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  4. 4
    Tim

    Renwick,
    Hold that thought,
    You are a member of a very small select group.

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  5. 5
    Town Guern

    Sorry Lyndon but your wrong.

    In an ideal world you would have a cross section of members of different ages,but at this moment in time it would never work.

    We need mature, sensible and successful industry players at Gsy Ltd/Plc level to see/guide us through these difficult times.

    The youngsters will get their chance but now is not the right time. We need hard,uncomfortable decisions and i really don’t think that youngsters are in a position to see us through the long dark tunnel to the other end.

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    • Paul Le Page

      I disagree Town Guern. Although I wouldn’t want a States chamber full of 20s and 30s, neither do I want one full of set in their ways, intransigent old men.

      Yes we need mature heads to guide Guernsey plc through these difficult economic times. There is also Guernsey the community to think about though, and the young generation has a lot of good ideas about making a positive impact to society.

      It’s also worth noting that William Wilberforce was elected to Parliament at the age of 21. He didn’t do much either….

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    • Zab

      I agree we need some hard uncomfortable decisions but I suspect they are not the ones you have in mind.

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  6. 6
    kevin

    young freemasons perhaps?

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  7. 7
    soph

    Would be nice to see younger members voted in. Once done,they need advice & help, where from?

    The States did away with the 3 tier system (douzaine reps + consilliers), leaving election winners We can only vote in our district not island wide
    In theory we could end up with a house of new members only
    Sorry for typos if any, but what would happen next?

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  8. 8
    Compton's Most Wanted

    I don’t think there are many young people who fit the criteria “must be an old fart incapable of common sense and the ability to grasp the concept of change”!

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  9. 9
    Ben

    As usual there is always a reason Lyndon makes such statements. On this occasion it is clearly because when he is elected, again, he wants a younger states assembly so that he is seen as a more mature fatherly ‘leader’ of a more subservient group of minions. Lyndon is determined to create a ‘leader for life’ Korean-esque role for himself. I suggest in future he is referred to as ‘the glorious leader’, ‘chairman Trott’, or even his ‘Excellency the who lay’s the wreath first’!!

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  10. 10
    30 something

    He has a point. However who would want the job?! most 20/30 something year olds are working their butts off trying to scrimp and save to get a mortgage. Why would then want to earn (generally) less money than what they could in a normal full time job and be ridiculed by the media and public at the same time?

    Not ask what your island can do for you but what you can do for your island. Sod that, we’re mostly ungrateful b*stards, why should they bother?

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  11. 11
    CJS

    I think it is a good idea. I think saying those in their 20s/30s are not mature enough for politics is riduclous and extremely patronising.

    The majority of complainants seem to desire change within the states. Innovation is driven by the next generation and would surely be the best way of reinvigorating a staggnant, “set in its ways” system.

    If those complaining were not so hypocrticial and were actually willing to accept the changes they so heartedly argue for, they might see something good happen. Maggie T was in her 20s when she started in politics, I wouldn’t discount younger people as potential politicians just because they do not have the life experience you have. We have grown up in a different world from you, I expect to perceive things differently.

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  12. 12
    Bee Lover

    Would it really make much difference, who got in? Guernsey used to be a place we were proud to live in, yes we were different to England and we were proud of it. We had our own identity, low crime, loads of money, employment etc
    Now we live in suburbia, can’t even afford a school dentist and have to rely on statistics to pretend that things are not too bad.
    Why do you think people don’t want to vote, this last session has been a joke

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