Guernsey Party of Independents disbands

The Guernsey Partnership of Independents registered a year ago as a political party, and 10 out of 21 of its candidates were elected.

It secured 24% of all votes cast in the first island-wide election of deputies

‘We never intended and have never made decisions as a group and we were quite clear about that during the election campaign,’ said Deputy Tina Bury.

‘We are working collaboratively with all our colleagues across government.

‘I am proud of what we achieved, including the fact that five out of 10 of our successful candidates were women, particularly given there were only eight women in total elected last year.’

Deputy Jonathan Le Tocq said that the party was established to support new candidates gain profile and help voters to navigate a new and crowded field of options. He said the overall success of the party was evidence that their objectives were met.

‘The things we share, along with others, expressed in our shared values and a willingness to work together constructively for the common good, still remain whether the Guernsey Partnership of Independents exists or not.’ he said.

Deputies Gavin St Pier, Al Brouard, Steve Falla, Yvonne Burford, Sasha Kazantseva-Miller, Heidi Soulsby, Lindsay de Sausmarez and Lyndon Trott were the others elected.

‘We aren’t and never were a true political party,’ said Deputy St Pier.

‘We formed as a group of independent individuals, brought together by shared principles and values rather than policies, ahead of the first general election organised using island wide voting. Since the election, we have never met as a group to discuss or agree any policy positions.’

Deputy St Pier believes the inevitable next step for Guernsey politics is to develop policy-based parties, like other democratic systems.

‘There are a significant number of people who share my view that Guernsey needs a positive alternative to the current government.

‘Those people, like me, believe we need a policy platform firmly focussed on Guernsey’s future that is fiscally and environmentally responsible and socially liberal – a party that stands for a proactive set of policies that generate investment in our future: investment in jobs and the economy; investment in housing; and investment in the environment, all of which will make our island a place future generations of our talented youth will want to spend their lives,’ he said.

‘I intend to explore that prospect with those who share a belief in acting now to secure Guernsey’s future – and am keen to hear from anyone who wants to join us on that journey.’