A trickle that turns into a flood?
AN OVERLY-long States debate about the election and the shock retirement of a senior member of the States – and maybe more than a nudge from the UK General Election – appear to have taken the island towards the first throes of election fever.
However after hours of discussion, we don’t know how much this States will allow its successors to spend on their campaigns. And we’ve got concerns that contact with the public will be through the States-sponsored, States-approved and possibly even States-edited manifesto booklet.
There’s a pretty sluggish island-wide poll running on social media where it appears the most popular option for your votes is apathy. So Guernsey25 is off and running with all the enthusiasm of a Conservative Party campaign – but without the viral videos lampooning Rishi and co.
The broadcast departures of Deputies Trott and Brouard have now been trumped by the impending loss of Peter Roffey, for a mix of personal and professional reasons.
The loss of a long-serving and though not universally popular, inevitably well-respected representative will be felt. Hence the reaction. And a hint of surprise, even disappointment.
The UK is losing Conservative MPs by the dozen before they even get to the ballot box this summer. Can these local retirements (with surely more to follow) be perceived as a signal or protest against the disappointment of this States, or the unappealing prospects of government for our politicians of the future?