A partnership no more as St Pier looks to Future Guernsey
A NEW political party is being formed which aims to be a ‘positive alternative’ to the current government, and ‘looks forward rather than back’.
Deputy Gavin St Pier has launched Future Guernsey, which is an overhaul of the Guernsey Partnership of Independents that disbanded in September.
The general election poll-topper from 2020, who then failed to win single committee seat, said it would be a policy-based party with a broad attraction.
‘It does need to be demonstrably fiscally and environmentally responsible, but also socially liberal, so it’s building a set of policies that reflect those values.
‘The reality is that any political party needs to capture where a good chunk of the population are. I think that from the feedback and input I’ve had, ensuring that the island remains fiscally responsible, delivers better outcomes for the environment, and continues to be socially liberal, is important to people.’
The switch to island-wide voting signalled the start of political parties in Guernsey and at the next general election in June 2025 it is anticipated that they will become more significant.
Deputy St Pier’s verdict on the current ruling administration is that it is too focused on a to-do list and needs more ambition and vision.
‘It needs to be projecting and thinking forward to what kind of community and island do we want in five or 10 years' time and for the next generation.
‘In other words having our eyes on the horizon and building towards that in the development of policy, rather than simply reacting to events in the present day.
‘There is a good section of politics, and to be fair it’s reflected in the community, that has a vision that is harking back to a past bygone era. People may not necessarily agree when that bygone era was, but through rose-tinted spectacles there’s a feeling that everything was much better at some point in the past.
‘While I think we can all have those reflective moments, I don’t think that’s a particularly constructive political platform.’
Currently Deputy St Pier is the only serving deputy in Future Guernsey and he has invited interested individuals who want to help or learn more, to get in touch.
‘At this stage I want to hear from anybody for whom what I’ve said about having aspiration has any kind of resonance.’
n Deputy St Pier can be contacted on 07839 240167.
