Latest news with #GuernseyPolitics
BBC News
7 hours ago
- Business
- BBC News
Race to become next Guernsey chief minister begins
The race to become Guernsey's top politician is under way, with deputies announcing their intention to chief minister Jonathan Le Tocq has said he would be willing to run for president of the Policy and Resources Committee (P&R) "to offer a degree of stability".Several candidates told the BBC they backed Le Tocq because of his experience in the role and ability to "bring people together".Deputy Mark Helyar said before the election campaign he would seek the top job, with the aim of controlling States spending, while Deputy Charles Parkinson confirmed he would make a tilt to advocate for a change to the island's corporate tax policy. Le Tocq said: "The culture needs to change right at the beginning of this term, I think I will do my best to try and work a coalition together of all types of people." Helyar became the vice-president of P&R in November 2022 after Deputy Heidi Soulsby resigned from the resigned ahead of a successful vote of no confidence in the committee in 2023. While expressing an intention to run before the election, Helyar did not answer when asked by the BBC on Friday whether he was still planning to vote of no confidence in P&R was led by Deputy Charles Parkinson, who finished third in the polls with 9,294 votes and said he felt he had a mandate to stand for for P&R president. Last year the States agreed a package of tax reforms including a 5% GST, a lower rate of income tax for earnings under £30,000 and reforms to social security contributions. Whether elected to P&R or not, Parkinson has said he would look to challenge the policy and attempt to get more money from local companies through reform to the coporate tax regime. Outgoing chief minister Lyndon Trott warned against changing the island's zero-10 regime, which means some companies pay no corporation tax and others pay 10%. Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez topped the polls with more than 10,000 votes, but she has not commented on whether she would stand for P&R Yvonne Burford, who came second in the polls, has said she wanted to be on P&R, but not as its the other possible contenders, 2020 poll-topper Deputy Gavin St Pier stood for P&R president, but lost out to Deputy Peter Ferbrache in Guernsey leader St Pier has already done the job between 2016 and 2020, but has not said whether he would seek it again, leaving the door open. After a short time on the Health and Social Care Committee (HSC) previously, some deputies the BBC has spoken suggested may seek a role as its has also been interest in that position from its vice-president Marc Leadbeater and deputy-elect Dr George Oswald.
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Slashed tyres raises deputy's fear for politicians
A Guernsey politician has said he was targeted by vandals who slashed the tyres of his motorbike, e-bike and his grandson's car while they were parked at his home. Although the motive behind the attack remains unknown, Deputy Peter Roffey suspects it may have been politically motivated. Police said they were investigating the attack after Roffey discovered the damage on Sunday after returning to his St Andrews home from a family bereavement. Roffey, who is standing down at the general election on 18 June after decades of service in the States of Guernsey, said: "At first, I thought it was just bad luck, but when I found all three vehicles had been targeted, it became clear this was deliberate." More news stories for Guernsey Listen to the latest news for Guernsey He added: "There hasn't been a spate of vandalism in the area, and my property seems to have been specifically targeted." Roffey, who was the youngest ever elected deputy in 1982, said the attack has left a "dusty taste" at the end of his political career. "There's no excuse for this kind of behaviour," he told BBC Radio Guernsey. "In Guernsey, politicians are very accessible, if someone is upset with a decision, they can just talk to us. "This kind of mindless vandalism is not what our community is about." Roffey said he had faced hostility throughout his political career. He recalled receiving threats, particularly during his campaign to introduce public smoking restrictions nearly 20 years ago. However, he said this was the first time threats had escalated into physical damage. "This is probably the worst thing that's actually happened to me," he said. "It's one thing to receive threats, but another to come home and find your property attacked." Roffey also expressed concern about the message this sends to prospective candidates. "I hope it doesn't put people off standing for election, but I wouldn't blame them if it did," he said. "We need people willing to make tough decisions, and this kind of intimidation narrows the field." Follow BBC Guernsey on X and Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to 'I remember thinking that I was going to die' Politicians request £10m for new QEII marina gate Guernsey Police
