Richard Digard

Good governments get things done. Bad ones…? Well, just look at Guernsey’s stuttering finances, housing shortage and cost-of-living crisis. But it’s not entirely the fault of deputies – they’re guaranteed to underachieve.

Dig around a bit and something odd emerges. Public sector employment costs have actually fallen in real terms just as payroll expenses have gone through the roof. That’s because we have 800 more States employees than a decade ago. Fair enough – but what do we have to show for it?