Early nominations frenzy slows to day three crawl

At just after midday there had been six new names added to the ballot paper, and between then and 3pm no one showed up at all.

The lobby area of the court sees all manner of life, but it is usually easy to spot an election candidate coming through the curved glass doors because they look slightly nervous and are clutching a piece of paper like their life depends on it.

Election officials were sharpening their pencils and catching up with other work, and just when day three had almost been written off after 3pm, in came fresh face Christopher Nicolle.

‘I’m excited and equally apprehensive, it’s a whole new venture for me.

‘I’m a former school teacher, and as a teacher of citizenship I felt it my duty to put my money where my mouth is. I’ve always told students that they have a voice and therefore they should use it, I’m political so really I should stand up to the plate and be heard.’

Mr Nicolle registered as an independent candidate, but said he was not against the idea of political parties at all, because he viewed collaboration as vital to getting things done.

The driving force behind his campaign is a vision for a better and fairer island.

‘This is a new reality for Guernsey, there have been lots of very positive things that have happened during the Covid lockdown, even though it’s obviously a dire thing on a personal level, but I think we’ve shown a lot more compassion, we’ve been less self-centred, I think one of the keys is to continue with that once Covid disappears.

‘We have to be aware that there are people who are not as fortunate as many on the island, because the gap between the haves and the have-nots here tends to be much wider than it would be in, say, the UK for example, so I think it’s about time that we started to address those issues and make Guernsey a much more equitable island, and make sure we’re showing a great deal more compassion.’