Latest news with #DougPerkins
Yahoo
29-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Inside the election where everyone has 38 votes
Heading to the polls voters often have in mind who or which party they plan to vote for - but what if there are 82 candidates and you have up to 38 votes? This was the issue for Guernsey voters last week as they decided who would run their government - the States of Guernsey - for the next four years. First-time voter Harry Snell, 19, said he chose to use all 38 of his votes as it was important to vote for the selection of candidates "that you want". While voting itself took "five minutes", Mr Snell, who is home from studying theatre at university, spent three nights deciding who to vote for. Two of those nights were spent reading the 276-page manifesto booklet, a process he described as a "real drag". He also listened to interviews and podcasts with candidates as well as researching issues he cared about. Mr Snell brought a handwritten list into the polling booth of the candidates he planned to vote for, but felt having so many on the ballot was "just ridiculous". While some chose to use all 38 of their votes like Mr Snell, the average number cast was 22 - down from 26 at the last election. Businessman Doug Perkins, 82, said he used 23 of his votes. Mr Perkins co-founded opticians Specsavers in the island in 1984 with his wife, Dame Mary Perkins. He felt the process was "clear" and "efficient" but he had to do "a lot of reading" to inform his choices. "I was wondering how well the election would be delivered, but I don't think it could be delivered better than it has been," said Mr Perkins. International observers backed up Mr Perkins' assessment of the election process, describing it as "smooth, efficient and calm". Until 2020, Guernsey elected its deputies to represent seven districts - with each voter getting six or seven votes for the candidates that chose to stand in their distrcit. Counting the votes under island-wide voting takes "an army of people", according to Keith Bell, Guernsey's returning officer. He said the votes were counted by four automated scanning machines - each counted batches of 100 votes in just a over minute. Observer Alvina Reynolds, from St Lucia, said: "While no election is perfect, this one had no major faults – remarkable for a state that has only recently undergone a major change in the way it votes." However, observers drew attention to declining voter registration, with 52% of eligible voters registered before the election, the lowest since 2020. The rising cost of living, an acute housing shortage and the long-running debate about whether to introduce tax reforms based on a goods and services tax (GST) were among key issues for voters. Without traditional political parties facing off - only six candidates stood under the banner of new party Forward Guernsey - some voters found it hard to work out what candidates stood for. French-born wine expert Aurelia, 42, said while it was her first time voting in Guernsey she would like to see a party system established to improve representation. She said: "It would be easier if people could choose what sort of decisions they want to make and what the focus of each party is. "I worry [politicians] lose focus and there's a lot of people arguing over decisions and it slows down the decision-making process." At 38 choices per person, voters in Guernsey may have the most votes per ballot of any nationwide general election, according to political marketing expert Dr Christopher Pich. Dr Pich, from the University of Nottingham, has studied Guernsey's political system since 2017 and said island-wide voting had changed the public's relationship with politicians as there was less "direct contact". He said an "interesting new feature" of this election was the "number of creative ways candidates tried to stand out from the crowd". "But this time there were battle bikes, speed dating, a stand up comedy night, even a 'Plunge and Politics' event where people could swim with candidates and ask them questions," he said. Dr Pich said podcasts had also become "important" this election. "Politicians in the UK are always looking for ways to increase engagement with politics - I think they could learn a lot from Guernsey." Political scientist Prof Thomas J Scotto, from the University of Strathclyde, said nation-wide constituencies like Guernsey's were "rare". Other countries - such as Israel and the Netherlands - also have nation-wide votes, but Guernsey stood out because voters can select so many individual candidates, he said. Prof Scotto said voting was a "demanding task" with so many choices. "Without those labels, voters must work hard to understand where candidates stand on key issues," he said. "With so many names, it can be overwhelming." Prof Scotto said voters often expressed "distrust" in political parties, but "from a political science perspective parties play a crucial role". "They help simplify complex choices and allow voters to hold elected officials accountable as part of a shared programme." For Prof Scotto, Guernsey's system means "success may rely more on personal ties than policy positions", compared to other countries. It is something Forward Guernsey leader Gavin St Pier said he wanted to see change. Candidates for the party agreed to share positions on six key policies, like housing and GST, but are free to vote how they choose on other issues. Three of its six candidates were elected. St Pier said: "The electoral system is a reflection of our history and experience, but the reality is we have produced something that is extraordinarily difficult to navigate. It requires real tenacity from the electorate. "How do we get more people involved in the democratic process? We think offering a policy choice is one way to address that issue." Despite some people's frustrations with the voting system, turnout was high. Of nearly 20,000 registered voters, 72% voted. This is down on 2020's record-breaking election, the first under island-wide voting - with more than 30,000 registered voters and an 80% turnout. However, it is significantly higher than typical UK elections - the 2024 general election had a 59.7% turnout according government figures. Although voter registration overall was down, with 52% of eligible voters registered before the election - about 3,000 fewer on the roll than in 2020. More news stories for Guernsey Listen to the latest news for Guernsey Peter Fisher, 73, was among those who thought the system should be simplified. Mr Fisher said the process was "a lot harder and more time consuming" than voting in the UK, where the main candidates stand for parties in a first-past-the-post voting system. "If you only vote for one [candidate in Guernsey] you only get one vote. I don't like it at all and I don't think it's as democratic," Mr Fisher said. "There's too much to read." Deputy Lindsay De Sausmarez has been a States member since 2016 and topped this year's poll with more than 10,000 votes - the only candidate picked by more than half of voters. She said Guernsey's politics could work better "under a party system", but the "transition to it" would be challenging. De Sausmarez said: "On the plus side it gives everyone who is on the electoral role the opportunity to vote, or not, for every single candidate. "But on another when it comes to the quality of information to inform your decision it is a little bit disenfranchising." Deputy Yvonne Burford was also re-elected after she came second the polls. She said island-wide voting made traditional canvassing, such as door knocking, difficult. Burford said she it would have taken more than six months to visit all 17,000 households on the electoral register if she spent "seven days a week" on it. However, she said she had visited "a cross section" of voters to understand the issues that mattered to them. Regardless of how many votes they got, Guernsey's 38 deputies - joined by two Alderney representatives in making up the States of Guernsey - have some big decisions ahead this term. Could another change to Guernsey's electoral system be one of them? Only time will tell. Follow BBC Guernsey on X and Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to Eighteen deputies re-elected as 12 lose seats What happens now after Guernsey's election? What can we learn from the election? Guernsey Election 2025 States of Guernsey Forward Guernsey
BBC News
29-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Inside the election where everyone gets 38 votes
Heading to the polls voters often have in mind who or which party they plan to vote for - but what if there are 82 candidates and you have up to 38 votes? This was the issue for Guernsey voters last week as they decided who would run their government - the States of Guernsey - for the next four years. First-time voter Harry Snell, 19, said he chose to use all 38 of his votes as it was important to vote for the selection of candidates "that you want".While voting itself took "five minutes", Mr Snell, who is home from studying theatre at university, spent three nights deciding who to vote of those nights were spent reading the 276-page manifesto booklet, a process he described as a "real drag".He also listened to interviews and podcasts with candidates as well as researching issues he cared Snell brought a handwritten list into the polling booth of the candidates he planned to vote for, but felt having so many on the ballot was "just ridiculous". While some chose to use all 38 of their votes like Mr Snell, the average number cast was 22 - down from 26 at the last Doug Perkins, 82, said he used 23 of his Perkins co-founded opticians Specsavers in the island in 1984 with his wife, Dame Mary felt the process was "clear" and "efficient" but he had to do "a lot of reading" to inform his choices."I was wondering how well the election would be delivered, but I don't think it could be delivered better than it has been," said Mr Perkins. International observers backed up Mr Perkins' assessment of the election process, describing it as "smooth, efficient and calm".Until 2020, Guernsey elected its deputies to represent seven districts - with each voter getting six or seven votes for the candidates that chose to stand in their the votes under island-wide voting takes "an army of people", according to Keith Bell, Guernsey's returning said the votes were counted by four automated scanning machines - each counted batches of 100 votes in just a over Alvina Reynolds, from St Lucia, said: "While no election is perfect, this one had no major faults – remarkable for a state that has only recently undergone a major change in the way it votes."However, observers drew attention to declining voter registration, with 52% of eligible voters registered before the election, the lowest since 2020. The rising cost of living, an acute housing shortage and the long-running debate about whether to introduce tax reforms based on a goods and services tax (GST) were among key issues for voters. Without traditional political parties facing off - only six candidates stood under the banner of new party Forward Guernsey - some voters found it hard to work out what candidates stood wine expert Aurelia, 42, said while it was her first time voting in Guernsey she would like to see a party system established to improve representation. She said: "It would be easier if people could choose what sort of decisions they want to make and what the focus of each party is."I worry [politicians] lose focus and there's a lot of people arguing over decisions and it slows down the decision-making process." At 38 choices per person, voters in Guernsey may have the most votes per ballot of any nationwide general election, according to political marketing expert Dr Christopher Pich, from the University of Nottingham, has studied Guernsey's political system since 2017 and said island-wide voting had changed the public's relationship with politicians as there was less "direct contact".He said an "interesting new feature" of this election was the "number of creative ways candidates tried to stand out from the crowd"."But this time there were battle bikes, speed dating, a stand up comedy night, even a 'Plunge and Politics' event where people could swim with candidates and ask them questions," he Pich said podcasts had also become "important" this election."Politicians in the UK are always looking for ways to increase engagement with politics - I think they could learn a lot from Guernsey." Overwhelming Political scientist Prof Thomas J Scotto, from the University of Strathclyde, said nation-wide constituencies like Guernsey's were "rare".Other countries - such as Israel and the Netherlands - also have nation-wide votes, but Guernsey stood out because voters can select so many individual candidates, he Scotto said voting was a "demanding task" with so many choices."Without those labels, voters must work hard to understand where candidates stand on key issues," he said."With so many names, it can be overwhelming."Prof Scotto said voters often expressed "distrust" in political parties, but "from a political science perspective parties play a crucial role"."They help simplify complex choices and allow voters to hold elected officials accountable as part of a shared programme." For Prof Scotto, Guernsey's system means "success may rely more on personal ties than policy positions", compared to other is something Forward Guernsey leader Gavin St Pier said he wanted to see for the party agreed to share positions on six key policies, like housing and GST, but are free to vote how they choose on other of its six candidates were Pier said: "The electoral system is a reflection of our history and experience, but the reality is we have produced something that is extraordinarily difficult to navigate. It requires real tenacity from the electorate."How do we get more people involved in the democratic process? We think offering a policy choice is one way to address that issue." Despite some people's frustrations with the voting system, turnout was nearly 20,000 registered voters, 72% is down on 2020's record-breaking election, the first under island-wide voting - with more than 30,000 registered voters and an 80% it is significantly higher than typical UK elections - the 2024 general election had a 59.7% turnout according government voter registration overall was down, with 52% of eligible voters registered before the election - about 3,000 fewer on the roll than in 2020. Peter Fisher, 73, was among those who thought the system should be Fisher said the process was "a lot harder and more time consuming" than voting in the UK, where the main candidates stand for parties in a first-past-the-post voting system."If you only vote for one [candidate in Guernsey] you only get one vote. I don't like it at all and I don't think it's as democratic," Mr Fisher said."There's too much to read." Deputy Lindsay De Sausmarez has been a States member since 2016 and topped this year's poll with more than 10,000 votes - the only candidate picked by more than half of said Guernsey's politics could work better "under a party system", but the "transition to it" would be challenging. De Sausmarez said: "On the plus side it gives everyone who is on the electoral role the opportunity to vote, or not, for every single candidate. "But on another when it comes to the quality of information to inform your decision it is a little bit disenfranchising." Deputy Yvonne Burford was also re-elected after she came second the said island-wide voting made traditional canvassing, such as door knocking, said she it would have taken more than six months to visit all 17,000 households on the electoral register if she spent "seven days a week" on it. However, she said she had visited "a cross section" of voters to understand the issues that mattered to them. Regardless of how many votes they got, Guernsey's 38 deputies - joined by two Alderney representatives in making up the States of Guernsey - have some big decisions ahead this another change to Guernsey's electoral system be one of them? Only time will tell.
Wales Online
18-05-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
No-one recognised this quiet man stood in a Welsh town centre - but he's made billions from us
No-one recognised this quiet man stood in a Welsh town centre - but he's made billions from us Douglas Perkins is a billionaire. He is also a man who can walk around his home town of Carmarthen and his home county of Carmarthenshire and not be recognised by anyone Specsavers co-founder Doug Perkins (Image: Chris Tostevin-Hall ) As shoppers meander through a Carmarthen shopping centre, they're oblivious to the man standing outside one of its shop fronts. Dapper and unobtrusive, he goes unnoticed until the sound of a photographer's shutter captures the attention of those passing by. "Who's the guy in the suit?" queries one passer-by. He's a billionaire with roots in Carmarthenshire. His lineage is local; his father served as a policeman and his grandparents tilled the land here for generations. He received the full grant available - £300 annually - when he heading off to Cardiff to study at the university. "That was a lot of money in those days - I was very grateful for it," he reflected, seated comfortably in the Carmarthen outlet of his business. Doug Perkins opening the Specsavers shop at Carmarthen (Image: Mike Walters ) Doug Perkins, alongside his wife Mary, launched Specsavers in 1984 on the island of Guernsey. Now, fourty years on, their enterprise boasts close to 2,000 branches stretching from Carmarthen to London, Guernsey to Aberdeen, and even overseas in Spain and New Zealand. Their venture, which sells millions of spectacles and contact lenses each year, has grown into the world's largest privately-owned optician chain. Stay informed on Carms news by signing up to our newsletter here Article continues below The Sunday Times Rich List of this year, 2025, estimates the family's fortune at approximately £1.539bn. Quite the achievement for a lad from Llanelli. He attributes his astonishing success to a background and upbringing that emphasised the principle: if you don't work, you don't get. He staunchly adheres to this maxim: "I am well and truly working class. And I've used it as an advantage: it gives you extra drive, there's no doubt about that. When others may have slackened off, I've kept with the same work ethic for 50 years and I really enjoy what I do." Doug points out that his commitment to industriousness and straightforward hard work is what allowed him and his wife to construct an extensive empire from modest origins (his earlier days were spent working in a bowling alley in Ammanford) and what has maintained their business's preeminent position. "Being working class gives you a work ethic but it also allows you to identify, always, with the importance of the customer, young and old, rich and poor," he explains. "That's one of the reasons why we've never gone on the stock exchange, because then you would spend half your time talking to institutional shareholders. "I'm not working for next year's results like most people on the stock exchange, watching the share price bob up and down - that doesn't interest me at all. My shareholders are out there on the shop floor." Doug's life took a turn in the 1970s. Following a humble start, he met Mary, and after tying the knot, they relocated to Guernsey to be closer to her family on the island. Together, they initiated a venture named Bebbington and Perkins ("in those days you had to call your business by your proper names"). Upon selling this firm, the enterprising pair went on to found Specsavers. "It was a project. We had invented this concept and we wanted to prove that the concept was a winner against some of these corporate companies. It got so exciting that we just wanted to keep going and we still feel that way. "We didn't have any big ambitions then, only to come back to Wales and to the west country, but we had so much interest that we decided to go national." Regular trips to Carmarthenshire remain on Doug's itinerary to maintain ties with family and his cherished Scarlets ("and to support the academy, which is the best in Wales"). SpecSavers founders and husband and wife Doug and Mary Perkins Doug's passion for rugby is evident from his time playing with the Carmarthen Quins during the 1965/66 season, and he notes the significant progress the town and county have achieved since. However, despite various transformations, Doug remarks: "I recognise that Carmarthen has kept its character - it still works as a market town, and it still brings people in from great distances. "Carmarthen works, Llanelli works, but I do think Carmarthen probably works better because it's retained its central character - not too much has gone to the outskirts - but Carmarthenshire as a whole is a great retreat. It's not a surprise to know that more people are coming here. West Wales in general has hugely improved; it's an amazing place." Despite his fondness for his home county, Doug has no plans to relocate back to West Wales permanently. He's been living in the same house that he and Mary purchased when Specsavers was merely a concept. "I've not been attracted to move anywhere else and I normally keep the same car for about 10 years!". "People think, 'this guy might be bonkers'. They might think why on earth, if he lives on an island and he's got the same house and the same car, is he still working? I can't really answer that." Looking ahead, Doug believes that, due to an ageing population, there will be an increased demand for glasses. "If you're going to live until you're 90, you're going to get eye problems. We can help stop that. I think we would like to grow where we can make a difference. We have a very good team of people now and we're ambitious to do even more significant things." Doug, now in his 70s, will play a pivotal role in these plans, continuing to grow a business that is fundamentally rooted in a strong work ethic, while delegating some tasks to his trusted deputies in Specsavers stores across Europe and globally. "In terms of our senior management, I think a fair number of them have working class backgrounds. They seem to identify better with the value for money and the personal service side of things," he says. "I don't personally go out looking for working class executives, but they seem attracted to the values that we have." Article continues below
