‘Obvious my views have not been valued for some time’
THE vice-president of the Policy & Resources Committee and the island’s deputy chief minister has resigned from the senior committee.
Heidi Soulsby said in her resignation letter to P&R president Peter Ferbrache that she felt there was little point in her remaining.
‘It has been obvious for quite a while that my views and advice have not been valued by some on the committee and I think there is little point in me continuing in the hope that things may get better.
‘I thank you personally for inviting me on to the committee after the last election. However, two years on, I now believe I will be able to make more of a positive contribution to the future of Guernsey outside of the committee.’
She was last seen publicly alongside P&R at the Scrutiny Management hearing two weeks ago, where she had to leave proceedings halfway through.
Deputy Ferbrache said he respected Deputy Soulsby’s decision to resign, and he believed she had made a valuable contribution to the committee over the last two years.
As lead on the Government Work Plan, she has been responsible for pulling together some of the government’s key priorities to be focused on over the next three years.
But she had started to cut an isolated figure, though sometimes aligned with Deputy Jonathan Le Tocq, opposing the committee over post-16 education, building key worker accommodation in the grounds of the Princess Elizabeth Hospital, and a £25m. spending plan for Alderney Airport.
Several deputies said they were not altogether surprised to hear the news.
‘I was saddened, but not surprised, to hear of Heidi’s resignation from P&R,’ said Deputy Yvonne Burford.
‘She is one of the most skilled and experienced politicians in the States and she is highly popular with the community, coming second in the last election.
‘It’s absolutely vital that when the committee considers her replacement, they choose someone with views that will challenge theirs, and who has the significant and wide-ranging political experience to replace that lost by her departure.’
Deputy Soulsby will remain in her role as vice-president until a new member is appointed.
Deputy Carl Meerveld said he knew of P&R disagreeing on a number of issues.
‘I am aware there have been some frictions and difference of opinion within the committee. I’m surprised and disappointed it has come to a head,’ he said.
P&R announced the news in a statement yesterday and said that neither Deputy Soulsby, nor the four remaining committee members, Deputy Ferbrache, Mark Helyar, Jonathan Le Tocq and David Mahoney, would speak to the media.
