Poll-topper St Pier fails to land committee spot
THE ISLAND’S most popular politician has been rejected by the States for any major roles, in a day which saw newcomers dominate a further shake-up of the political landscape.
Having lost out on Monday in the race for the top job, poll-topper Deputy Gavin St Pier had set his sights on the presidency of the States’ Trading & Supervisory Board, and in his pitch he was unequivocal that if successful he wanted experienced ally Deputy Lyndon Trott on the board with him.
‘I wish to be unambiguous and transparent, if you decide you want to appoint me but not my nominees I will resign, my tenure will be very brief.’
He was beaten in the secret ballot by Deputy Peter Roffey, 24 votes to 12.
Deputy St Pier, who secured 13,927 votes in the General Election, was then proposed for a members’ spot on the Scrutiny Management Committee by its new president Yvonne Burford, saying he was happy to be ‘gamekeeper turned poacher’. But the Assembly denied him that seat as well, and instead appointed two newcomers – Deputies Simon Fairclough and John Dyke.
On Monday Deputy St Pier was ousted as president of Policy & Resources after Deputy Peter Ferbrache won 23 votes to 17 with a clarion call for ‘action not words’.
It means that Deputy St Pier has been demoted to the ‘backbenches’ with no seats on any committees, and he is joined by Deputy Trott.
After yesterday’s ballots Deputy St Pier wrote on social media that he was ‘totally relaxed’ with the result.
‘This Assembly has no immediate use for me. Times will change. Meantime will serve from the (non-existent) ‘backbenches’ – holding others to account to deliver on their manifesto promises and to explain their deviations there from.’
Brand new deputies filled up all the members’ spaces on Scrutiny Management, Economic Development, Education, Sport & Culture, Environment & Infrastructure, and the Development & Planning Authority.
Five of the ten elections were uncontested.
Former Economic Development president Deputy Charles Parkinson got a spot on STSB, which he led at the start of last term.
The new president of Health & Social Care, Deputy Al Brouard, sounded relieved that he managed to persuade four deputies to serve alongside him to help fight Covid-19 on the biggest spending committee having had to initially defer the election when he only had three names.
