‘We had to run hard just to stand still’

I FEEL IT IS now the time for me to share with the people of the Bailiwick some of my thoughts as we are in the second half of the life of this States Assembly.

I am president of Policy and Resources, our senior committee, and I am known outside the island as the Chief Minister of Guernsey.

I write this, though, not as president/chief minister. I am expressing my own views and not that of the committee that I chair, or any of its members. These are my musings and comments, and the responsibility for them is entirely mine.

I sometimes feel that, at least in the eyes of certain of the media and, in particular, in my opinion, the Guernsey Press, all the ills of the Bailiwick world started on 16 October 2020 when I was elected president of P&R, and before then our world was perfect.

As a litigator with lots of experience, and known for a somewhat aggressive style, I can live with that unrealistic assessment of the actuality. Also in a democracy those holding senior offices must always be subject to comment, scrutiny and criticism.

That said, I do just inwardly smile sometimes at some of the comments made by your regular contributors.

I worked with and respected greatly Richard Graham when he was a States member. He was a valued and wise member of the last Assembly. I do not take any objection to his comments written in an almost Edwardian style about me. They may not be correct too often, but his columns are interesting.

I am glad, though, that I am not Deputies Dudley-Owen, Inder or Meerveld who seem to regularly attract his ire. There are others that he is almost saintly and admiring towards. It is almost as though late in life he has become starstruck.

He is not an odious man. I say that because otherwise he reminds me of a tall version of John Bercow with his march from one end of the political spectrum to the other.

The other columnist that I would comment upon is Richard Digard. I like him and he is an able journalist. It must be so wonderful, though, to always have his vision and always be right. I am a little surprised, though, that when some time ago my colleague Deputy Mark Helyar wrote a letter commenting, among other things, on the tutelage of Mr Digard as chair of Guernsey Post, you refused to publish it without giving Mr Digard a right to reply [see footnote].

Again, expressing my own view, that smacked of giving favourable treatment to one of your contributors – but I may be wrong.

Let us now turn to the situation that I and my colleagues in P&R found ourselves in in October 2020.

I should and do say without reservation, I am very grateful for the able support and assistance I have received from all my colleagues on P&R. I was sorry that Deputy Soulsby resigned. I am glad Deputy Murray has joined us.

In October 2020 the Bailiwick was still in the throes of the pandemic. It had been around for about eight months. The world did not at that time have any or sufficient vaccines. I became chair of the Civil Contingencies Authority. In January 2021 we had to impose a second lockdown. We then had to manage, over a period of time, the easing of restrictions and, because of the excellent advice received and support given from many, the Bailiwick was the first jurisdiction in the British Isles to lift all restrictions in February 2022.

Dealing with that issue over 16 months (my predecessor ably chaired the CCA for eight months) was a challenge to all. There was a period of months when I would have several lengthy meetings a day and often at short notice dealing with various aspects of the pandemic. The horrible virus was a many headed monster which found its evil way into so many different strands of our lives. I am proud to have led the response, but it was only possible with the efforts of all, and particularly a devoted team of very able professionals.

Dealing with that, though, was more than a distraction. It affected our economy and our freedoms, and our ability to do other things we would normally have had the time and resources available to deal with.

We also had to deal with the aftermath of Brexit. This was not easy. Paperwork abounded where it was not previously required. Certain of our sectors suffered from labour shortages as labour, for a number of reasons including Brexit, dried up from EU countries. Again, credit must be paid to those to whom it is due, in this case our excellent External Relations team who responded so well to the challenges.

They say things come in threes. The third of this difficult triumvirate was the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 by Putin and Russia. Quickly, and with resolve, all but one member of the States Assembly positively condemned it. The public of the Bailiwick responded warmly and with compassion and aid. Our problems arising from this awful act are nothing compared with those suffered by the people of the Ukraine, but nevertheless the consequences, all the fault of Putin and Russia, meant, among other things, higher inflation and interest rates and a lowering of living standards.

I go back to 16 October 2022. Me and my colleagues in P&R had to address the criticism made of States accounts not meeting certain international standards. This had been known for many years. Nothing had been done to address it by successive assemblies and P&Rs.

We addressed it. The resolution is still only partial, but will be completed quite soon. It will not bring the riches that some think, nor cure all or many ills. Nevertheless, it needed doing and we have actioned it. It will also stop people using it as an excuse for doing nothing.

We also found that an issue arising from a binding mediation in 2018 relating to Judicial pay had not been actioned at all in a period of well over two years. We addressed it. It has not proceeded even now as quickly as it should due to other pressures, but we have grasped the issue. Again, a wry smile comes upon me when from time to time I am asked publicly questions by one of those who failed to progress this at all.

We – and here I am referring to the Assembly as a whole – also had to address the mess left by previous Assemblies in respect of our education system.

Towards the end of the 2012 to 2016 Assembly, and confirmed early in the 2017 to 2020 Assembly, the States decided to dispense with selection (called by most the 11-plus).

The decision was made no doubt by a group of sincere people. It included those who had always, and would always, educate their children privately. They wanted – and I genuinely applaud that – choice for their children but were excluding that for others less fortunate.

It also included those who were distressed and/or disappointed with their own experiences of the 11-plus. It did not matter to this grouping, at least in my view, that the majority of people wanted reforms, but that the reformed system continue. One deputy told me at the time that it was not the right type of people expressing their opinion.

I likened it to knocking your own house down, without having plans approved nor finance in place, nor an appropriate time-frame, to replace it.

This States had to grapple with that. Again, in my view the States have been very fortunate to have the right person in Deputy Dudley-Owen to head up that task. Her challenges have been massive. There has been constant sniping from contributors to the Guernsey Press, such as Mr Graham and States members, at her and her team’s efforts. She has been faced with problems with the proposed builders of the complex at the old St Peter Port School site (and she acted, I know from conversations I have had with her, with alacrity and good judgement to address that) and now with concerns over funding due to the recent States decision (or lack of decision) on the Tax Review.

‘You could do it cheaper, you could do it better – you should be quicker,’ say her critics.

If the people of the Bailiwick want a better education system, lobby those deputies – criticise those lobbyists and Guernsey Press contributors who espouse such critical nonsense.

We also had to address the issue that has been bubbling along and is now at the point of explosion of rising health and pension costs.

This has been caused by us generally living longer. Health costs have risen far above inflation over the last 10 years or so. With little exception, the significant growth in public service employees over the last 10-plus years is down to more health professionals being employed. This has been coupled with the significant downturn in working age people.

In simple terms that means more expense and less people to contribute towards its cost.

To use my vernacular, the kit or infrastructure necessary to keep services running has been woefully neglected for far too long.

Deputy Parkinson, in a debate as far back as January 2020, commented about our lack of investment in infrastructure. On that issue he was correct.

Public service reform was promised in the last Assembly, but with scant attention to detail. It reminded me of a phrase familiar to my generation. ‘Your eyes are bigger than your stomach’.

In this context I construe that as meaning much was promised but with little or no substance or idea as to how it was to be achieved, and with little regard for the possible.

When we took office in October 2020 we found that there was in place unsatisfactory and outdated equipment that was wholly inappropriate to enable the work of government to progress smoothly and on a daily basis. Systems and methods of work were not up to standard. HR provisions in the States were poor. People were disincentivised from using their initiative. Process was more important than substance.

We soon realised we were going to have to run very hard just to stand still.

I must comment here, so what I am saying is not misunderstood, that overwhelmingly most public servants are decent, hard-working, competent people doing their best in difficult circumstances. I do not make that comment from a position of naivety. I have been self-employed for most of my working life. I have seen and been involved in a variety of businesses. I feel privileged to work with so many good people in the public service.

All of that acknowledged, we, that is the current P&R (and including Deputy Soulsby during her time), had these issues come home to roost during our time in office. We both had to address them and wanted to address them.

In doing so we have been accused, both by those who left many problems unresolved and by the media, particularly the Guernsey Press, as being profligate. Being as respectful as I can to those who have espoused such comments, my reply is: What utter nonsense. What piffle. We individually and collectively as P&R members hate spending public money unnecessarily or in a profligate manner. Every penny of expenditure that we have sanctioned has been necessary for a variety of reasons. Some because of the issues caused by the pandemic, some to keep the show on the road because things that should have been done had not been and some to progress necessary policies such as Education and Social Housing. As Deputy Roffey has commented, I have been over the last 18 months or so an active supporter of monies spent on purchasing sites for social housing, which takes me to my next point.

Deputy Brouard, the president of Health and Social Care, had to have his arm twisted to take the job. Others, who were licking their wounds from perceived electoral injustices perpetrated upon them by the States Assembly, declined the opportunity to take on one of the most difficult jobs in the States.

I have said it to him privately and I say it publicly, he has performed splendidly. I worked closely with him on the CCA and seen the effort he has put into his presidency. I felt genuinely sorry for him recently when he pointed out that one of his major difficulties in attracting staff is the lack of good quality accommodation. There has not been a spade in the ground to help build new accommodation for his staff since he has been president. That is not his fault.

He, like me, wants the beauty of Guernsey to be preserved.

He, like me, does not want housing built unnecessarily anywhere.

He, though, has to deal with a major and pressing problem.

Sometime ago I went to a presentation by his officers at the PEH. I went with an open mind. I needed to be persuaded. This related to building on the field which, together with other land, had been purchased in the 1930s at effectively building land prices. This is the field where two senior politicians are seen in a photograph looking wistfully over a fence expressing their disapproval at building lots of necessary accommodation for hospital workers because less accommodation could be built more expensively and over a longer time-frame just opposite.

Despite the best efforts of Deputy Brouard and my P&R colleague Deputy Mahoney, this project is still a long way (if ever) from fruition.

Needless to say I am convinced of the need to build in that field. Reluctantly, yes, but out of necessity.

Following on from that logically is housing generally. There is not enough of it. It is too expensive for lots of people, whether they are looking to rent or buy.

Under our current rules, regulations and system of government, we have little realistic chance of making any inroads into solving this massive problem.

Taking forever to decide planning applications because of over-complicated procedures is not going to help.

Again, no criticism of the planners. They have to act within the rules. It is the rules that are too complicated.

We need to be radical. Deputy Trott commented in the recent Tax Review debate that if he were a benign dictator, he would have voted for Option A. This was the option that proposed GST as part of a package which would have benefited more than 50% of our population, and particularly the poorest in our community. This was a package, by the way, that Deputy Gollop has said he wished he had voted for. Deputy Trott’s wisdom then deserted him – hopefully temporarily – when he went on to explain why he could not vote at the moment for Option A.

I do not think I or anyone else needs to be a benign dictator, we just in the States need to think differently.

We need to entrust a small group to look very urgently into how we address the problem. It will not be solved tomorrow. It will not be easy. It will require the breaking of eggs to make the omelette.

That task force – as I would term it – comprising a few States members, one or two leading members of the construction industry, a planner or two, an environmentalist or two and some innovative architects – would be tasked with finding land in appropriate areas – whatever its zoning, but not on true green land – that could be built upon, and soon. Some of these sites could provide high-rise development, but only where it will not impact adversely on the environment. Schemes would need to be drafted for, among other things, the purchase by people who could not otherwise afford to do so, to buy and, in appropriate circumstances, build their homes.

A public/private sector finance facility, to enable at least this part of any housing development, could be set up. I would hope that as much of the development work could be done by local firms as possible, but, being realistic, builders from possibly France and beyond could be approached.

It would mean procedures would have to be suspended/varied or repealed. It would mean and involve a complete change of mind set. But this is Guernsey. The Guernsey that built the harbour in difficult times. The Guernsey that survived the Occupation. The Guernsey that prospered after the sad demise of the growing industry.

My final substantive comment just refers back briefly to the Tax Review debate.

It concluded in a shambles and with an abrogation of responsibility. We must now address the vacuum created by our collective lack of decision. It may take longer than it should have.

I do just wonder if those serious and experienced politicians Deputies St Pier and Soulsby will now answer the question I posed of them in the States and which I am not aware that they have answered. Are they excluding the introduction of GST in the next States Assembly running from July 2025 to June 2029?

I am sure those anti-GST folk who cheered them into the Royal Court building recently would like to know.

There is much more that I could write but I have already gone on long enough.

I am a States member because of what Guernsey has done for me and what I want it to do for so many more in the future.

• Editor’s footnote: Deputy Helyar submitted a letter for publication in December last year. It started off as a response to a Richard Digard column… and quickly descended into a rather personal attack on him as chairman of Guernsey Post and made various comments and calculations about the remuneration of the Guernsey Post board. By crude mathematics, it suggested an average earning for each director some six times the actual chairman’s salary, and urged Guernsey Post to act by cutting its board to save thousands of pounds. These figures were new to any debate and clearly likely to be wrong (taking no account of executive and non-executive directors) so they were referred to Guernsey Post for comment. When Deputy Helyar was advised that the matter had been referred to Guernsey Post, he asked for the letter to be withdrawn.