Trott back at the top

He was elected to the top job late yesterday, defeating Rob Prow by 21 votes to 19, after Peter Ferbrache’s P&R was earlier forced to resign when it lost a vote of no confidence by 16 votes to 23.

Deputy Trott immediately pledged to work on healing divisions in the Assembly, and repairing the States’ reputation with the public.

‘One of my key objectives is to try to get the States to a place where it is more popular with our community going into the next general election than it is right now,’ he said.

‘If I can help move the States from a position where it isn’t really trusted by our community to a position where it is more trusted – that is one of the measurements of what success looks like.

‘There are so many challenges. The extent of the challenges couldn’t be more dramatically emphasised by a 21-19 vote. Even now, the States is virtually split down the middle.’

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Deputy Trott, who also saw off Deputies Charles Parkinson and Peter Roffey in earlier rounds of voting, revealed that he intends to stand down from local politics at the next election in June 2025, after 25 years in the States.

‘I know how exhausting the next few months are going to be. The only way I can remain in my wife’s good books is to make that announcement now. I’ll be all in, I’ll do my very best, but I shall not seek re-election.’

He also announced that he wants Heidi Soulsby to be his new vice-president, if deputies back the four candidates he will nominate for the other seats on P&R when the States meeting continues today.

‘Right from the word go, I regarded Deputy Soulsby as a candidate who would fit across any P&R.

‘As to the make up of the other three, I shall be writing to all States members asking for expressions of interest, and then I shall sit down and do my very best to find a team which represents all parts of the States and which I believe has the best chance of a harmonious period, or as harmonious as we can expect, between now and the next election.’

Deputy Trott is the first person to return to the top job for a second spell, having previously led the old Policy Council between 2008 and 2012. He said he thought it would be even tougher second time around.

‘I’ll also go as far as to say that I’m not necessarily certain the States regarded me as the best candidate, but there were some candidates who would have been better who were extremely unlikely to get enough support from the States.

‘I believe the States has voted for me because I’m perceived as being the most experienced and least divisive candidate. I understand that. One of my mandates now is to do my very best to bring the States together.

‘But I do not underestimate the challenges – they are enormous.’