An Experienced, Proactive & Solution Focused Approach.
There are 6 key challenges confronting us. We must reform our system of government - Committee politics
has passed its sell by date. Our economy desperately needs fixing. We have not set a viable fiscal policy for
two terms and are in a deficit. Addressing the housing crisis and making homes affordable is vital. Our way of life and our finance industry is completely reliant on government maintaining safety and security. To achieve economic growth, we must develop education and upskill our local workforce and make our public services sustainable and fit for purpose.
Manifesto
MANIFESTO
Reform, Protect, Prosper.
Reform our System of Government
Our Committee system of silo government is broken and no longer fit for purpose. This is evidenced by the lack of colligate action and procrastination around the major issues that beset us. The economy, affordable housing, upskilling the local workforce and making public services (including Health) sustainable and fit for purpose, remain unresolved.
Our cumbersome protracted and siloed committee approach is not seen elsewhere and urgently needs to be replaced with an executive style of collective and fully coordinated government, with fewer Deputies held to account, through identifiable leadership. The Isle of Man model operates with 24 elected members, compared to our 40, and operates an effective executive system, combined with a much more robust system of scrutiny.
A new Assembly must quickly dust off the respected & ’2000 Harwood Report’ and change this failed government machinery, to one that gets things done.
Fix the Economy
Our economy is in dire straits. We have failed to agree a viable fiscal policy and have amassed a huge deficit. Despite multiple debates, some Deputies buried their heads in the sand and failed to grasp this fundamental nettle. Some who shouted loudest against tax reforms, offered no solutions, demanding more spending on their pet projects!
The economy can only grow if government invests in vital crumbling infrastructure. The list of priority capital projects outstanding amount to a staggering one billion pounds.
The Isle of Man and Jersey, our biggest competitors, have a consumption tax, as do most other jurisdictions on the globe, which spreads their tax base. The Isle of Man currently collects one billion pounds in three years and Jersey the same in nine years. From the get-go, we must set fiscal policy. It must include the implementation of the finally agreed progressive tax package, or one similar, mitigated by lowering income tax on the first £30k and reforming social insurance contributions rendering them less regressive.
We also need urgent work on the & ‘Pillar 2’ Global Rules (Corporate income tax), without harming our vital finance industry, to raise circa £30m.
Safety and Security
It is said that safety and security of its citizens is the first duty of government. We have a right to expect to enjoy our lives, protected from crime. We have levels of safety not found elsewhere but must not be complacent. Government must continue to build on the extensive initiatives this term, such as fighting crime and protecting victims, in particular tackling domestic abuse and sexual violence, the provision of the Sexual Assault Referral Centre, tackling cybercrime and online safety and transforming the Criminal Justice system. Continued engagement with our excellent third sector partners, who also provide support to victims, is essential.
We must play our part in fighting global crime. We were evaluated by Moneyval in 2024 and obtained an excellent outcome, which is vital to our continued success as a leading global financial centre. We must not take our foot off the pedal and continue to meet international standards.
Education & Upskilling the Workforce
To keep the economy and front-line requirements going, we need to attract more local people into our businesses, industries and public services. We must also remain appreciative of those from overseas that the business sector simply cannot do without. The post Brexit environment has unfortunately caused global labour recruitment challenges, but we need to be mindful of the demands on our services and housing.
We must orientate education and our workforce toward filling our recruitment demands focusing on Guernsey's residents. Industry and governments’ ‘Skills Guernsey’ must combine to tailor our curriculum and career enhancement toward those demands. More emphasis must be channelled into our excellent Guernsey Institute, due to benefit from an essential new facility next term.
Address the Housing Crisis
Just about everyone agrees there is a housing crisis. The dream for families to own a home is disappearing and rents are becoming unaffordable. We are not building enough houses and government policies are not working. The infamous GP 11 failed. Our English based development laws are over engineered causing delay and expense. An investigation into our extortionate cost of building materials, compared to the UK and Jersey, is also needed.
This crisis must first and foremost be viewed through the lens of local residents. States owned land and buildings must come into the equation. A scheme of truly affordable loans to first time buyers needs to be brought into government scope. The work of our excellent Guernsey Housing Association must also continue to be supported.
MY EXPERIENCE
Political
• 2016 - 2020 TERM 1 - Elected People’s Deputy - Member of HSC & Vice President of Home Affairs
• 2020 - 2025 TERM 2 - Elected People’s Deputy - President of Home Affairs
• 2020 - 2025 Member of the Civil Contingencies Authority (CCA)
• 2020 - 2025 Chairman of the Financial Crime Strategy Oversight Forum (MONEYVAL)
Professional
• Chief Officer, Customs and Immigration/Border Agency, for 8 years.
• Member of the Chartered Management Institute (MCMI).
• Member of the Institute of Professional Investigators (MIPI).
Personal
• Former Director on the Board of the charity Independence.
• Former President of the Sunday Soccer League