Chief Minister – hopefully UK’s next PM will bring stability
SENIOR Guernsey politicians will be watching on as the UK spends the next week deciding who a new prime minister will be following the inevitable resignation of Liz Truss yesterday.
Ms Truss will be the shortest-serving prime minister in British history after she resigned after a turmoil-ridden six-and-a-half weeks in office.
The resignation has triggered a second Conservative leadership election in four months.
Ms Truss had to go following a rebellion by Tory MPs after a series of U-turns on her economic plan which meant she lost all authority.
In a brief speech outside Downing Street, Ms Truss said the Conservative Party had elected her on a mandate to cut taxes and boost economic growth.
‘I recognise that I cannot deliver the mandate on which I was elected by the Conservative Party,’ she said.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and other opposition parties called for an immediate general election.
Guernsey politicians followed developments from their own debating chamber in the Royal Court.
‘Everybody’s holding their breath really,’ said Chief Minister Peter Ferbrache last night.
‘For a PM to go in just over six weeks is unique in history, and particularly concerning, bearing in mind all the problems that exist.’
Deputy Ferbrache said that with new incumbent now promised by the end of next week, he hoped that whoever took office could bring some certainty to politics and financial markets.
‘I’d like to see this resolved very quickly.
‘Who they appoint is a matter for them, but I’d like them to appoint someone who’s going to be around for a period of time, at least until an election, whether it’s one month or two years, and I really would hope its somebody they can all rally behind.
‘Guernsey is a market follower, not a market maker, and we’re affected by what happens in the markets. If the UK sneezes we could catch a cold.’
Another change in government would require local civil servants and deputies to build up new relationships with ministers and junior ministers, Deputy Ferbrache said.
‘Let’s hope [the deadline for a new prime minister to take office] is achievable, hope whoever it is there’s a period of stability and we Guernsey, Britain in general, and the financial markets get the stability we all need and deserve.’
