Why I am standing to be a deputy in the States of Guernsey

I am standing for the States of Guernsey for a second time with the aim of bringing back  spending and fiscal discipline and to try to rein back the excessive regulation that has limited growth in our economy for a number of years. The ultimate objective, of course, is to grow the economy, preserve good jobs and improve the quality of life for ALL the people of Guernsey. We must control the need for more and more taxes and ever more costly and burdensome regulation. I would also like to continue the work I have been doing to bring forward more housing. I have led on the removal of Planning Policy GP11 which has been a huge drag on housebuilding.

After we get our current excessive spending under control, we should be in a position to move forward in a carefully sequenced way with vital infrastructure projects to allow the business sector to flourish and grow the Guernsey economy. This is the only way to create jobs and pay for vital health and social care in the long term.

I was born in Poole, Dorset in 1956 , attended Poole Grammar School and read law at Downing College, Cambridge. Having qualified as a solicitor, I have worked in London with Messrs Freshfields, then as a partner of Maples and Calder and as a consultant to Mourant Ozannes. I am currently engaged as a non executive director of an investment group.  My family home has been in Castel for the past 25 years or so. I  am married with 3 adult children who studied in Guernsey and 7 grandchildren.

It was never part of my career plan to stand for the States. I was happy enjoying my semi- retirement on our lovely Island. However, it has become clear to me over the last few years that our good ship Guernsey was slowly but relentlessly being steered towards the rocks as a result of fiscal irresponsibility, entry in to terrible and costly contracts and ideological decision making.

I have spent 4 years on the Public Accounts Committee between 2012-2016 before it was disbanded. I am a member of the Scrutiny Management Committee and the Development and Planning Committee. I chair the Legislation Scrutiny Panel and am a member of the Offshore Wind Committee. I have some experience of Guernsey’s governance and its problems. I would propose reinstating a much enhanced PAC  to include private sector professionals and entrepreneurs to scrutinise major States contracts BEFORE they are signed. We have heard “lessons have been learned” so many times and know they have not. Our procurement in respect of major contracts has been sub optimal to say the least. 

 I will pursue sensible, pragmatic policies to maintain and grow Guernsey’s economy based upon what has been proven to work. I do not believe in slavishly following fads from elsewhere but am always prepared to copy helpful initiatives from wherever they may have been successfully implemented.

CONTACT ME

Please read my full manifesto and contact me if you have questions. Details as above and there is a contact box on the last page of this site.