She said that a more inclusive approach and changing the way the States’ senior committee operates would help end tribalism and rivalry which had marred the previous political term.
Her appeal for a return to ‘consensus politics’ received a resounding endorsement on the new Assembly’s first day when it decisively backed her to lead P&R.
Deputy de Sausmarez needed only one round of voting to secure a majority of votes. Her tally of 22 was well ahead of Mark Helyar on 11 and Jonathan Le Tocq on seven.
‘I’m possibly quite different to what we’ve had in recent years. My style is much more collaborative,’ she said.
‘I know that is sounding like a cliche these days because that is what everyone talked about through the election campaign, but it genuinely is the way I have always tried to operate, and it has been a successful strategy.
Watch: Matt Fallaize spoke to Deputy de Sausmarez after Tuesday’s vote
‘As president of Environment & Infrastructure, we found it a much more sensible approach to develop policy by involving all the people who were going to be affected by the policy.
‘As a result, you get a much more workable policy out of it and you don’t hit the opposition you might if you had just taken a decide-and-defend approach.’
The Assembly is sitting again today to elect four other members of P&R.
The new president said yesterday that she knew who she would nominate. Her nominees are understood to include Jonathan Le Tocq, Charles Parkinson and Gavin St Pier. Other States members can propose alternative candidates.
Deputy de Sausmarez will then turn her attention to nominating presidents of other committees ahead of another round of elections on Friday.
Talks about those roles were continuing last night, with uncertainty about the leadership of Economic Development and Education, Sport & Culture in particular, but potential candidates were said to be approaching the discussions constructively.
‘There is just a very different feel about this Assembly,’ said Deputy de Sausmarez.
‘It feels younger, more dynamic perhaps, a bit more future-facing, and certainly today’s contested election did not feel adversarial at all.
‘I am hopeful that the way this Assembly feels and the way everyone is interacting at the moment is a sign of a much more united Assembly.’
Listen: Guernsey Press Politics Podcast
After topping the poll with not far off 11,000 votes at the general election two weeks ago, Deputy de Sausmarez was initially reluctant to stand for the presidency of P&R. She agreed to stand only after days of discussion with a large group of politicians who believed she was the outstanding candidate in the eyes of the Assembly and the public.
Deputy de Sausmarez is the first woman to lead the States’ senior committee.
Soon after Bailiff Sir Richard McMahon declared her elected, there were celebratory hugs between members of the campaign group Women in Public Life who were in the public gallery of the States Chamber hoping to witness the historic achievement.
‘I know that matters to a lot of other people,’ said Deputy de Sausmarez.
‘I would like to think I have been elected because I am the best person for the role, but it is perhaps a little bit surprising that we’re in 2025 and that best person had never yet been female. I’m glad to have brought a bit of change in that respect.’
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