Deputies dismiss rumours of starting a new political party
REPORTS of a new political party have been dismissed by deputies rumoured to have been involved in the project.
Several States members, mostly on the centre right of the Assembly, refuted claims that they were planning to launch a party ahead of next year’s general election.
Most said they would retire or stand as independent candidates in June and would not join a party in the meantime.
Two former members of the Guernsey Party were among those who denied any involvement.
‘I am afraid that the grapevine is incorrect about me,’ said Deputy Nick Moakes.
‘The simple answer is that I am not involved with any group and I have not been involved in any discussions or meetings related to a group.’
Deputy Bob Murray said anyone claiming that a party was being created had ‘picked up a fag end’ on the issue.
The Guernsey Party was one of three parties at the last general election in 2020.
It won six seats and a seventh deputy joined soon after. But the party split when its leader, Deputy Mark Helyar, backed the introduction of goods and services tax despite a commitment at the election to oppose tax increases, and others followed.
The Guernsey Party is currently the only party on a mandatory register of parties held at the Greffe. Since the split, only Simon Vermeulen and John Dyke have remained members.
‘I am aware of a couple of other parties bubbling under for next year’s election, but at the moment I continue to uphold my manifesto pledges and maintain a pro-growth and pro-business outlook,’ said Deputy Vermeulen. ‘I intend to stand next year as an individual candidate.’
Deputy Dyke said he originally believed the Guernsey Party could promote smaller government and economic growth, but his hopes were dashed by the split on GST.
‘The problem with parties is that they require firm discipline in adhering to party policy and that seems difficult to achieve in Guernsey,’ he said.
‘As to the next election, I have not decided what to do, or whether I will even stand, but I think it fair to say that the general population is not in favour of parties, and one has to respect that.’
Deputy Dyke said he would encourage ‘people with business acumen or basic common sense’ to stand next year.
Rob Prow thought that rumours of his involvement in a prospective party could have been put about maliciously.
‘The grapevine is well off the mark and I suggest this should be filed under fake news,’ he said.
Deputy Prow was certain that if he stood for election again it would not be within a party.
However, he had strong views on how any party should operate.
‘They should be grass roots, transparent, not collapsed when committee elections do not go their way, and they should not exhibit tendencies that they were still operating as a party once collapsed,’ he said.
Peter Ferbrache said he was becoming ‘even more resolute with every passing day’ that he would not seek re-election in June.
‘The truth is I am very disillusioned with politics, albeit conscious of my duty to do my best until I leave,’ he said.
Deputy Ferbrache was involved in two separate political parties in the previous States term, but has only ever contested elections as an independent candidate.
He was worried about the outcome of the next general election.
‘It seems to me most deputies are standing again and probably most will be re-elected, and by and large I’m afraid they don’t have the wherewithal to sort out the problems we face as a community,’ he said.
