Deputy Gavin St Pier faces a major political hurdle as his colleagues on the Policy & Resources committee move to block his immediate return following his resignation.
Deputy St Pier said on Saturday that he was intending to resign as vice-president of the senior States committee after his re-arrest on Friday relating to allegations of misconduct in public office and an allegation of an offence under the Reform Law.. However, he added that he would intend to seek a fresh mandate from the States in the election created by his resignation.. The other members of P&R had also come to the conclusion
that he needed to stand down.. And when they met again yesterday, for a scheduled meeting, they confirmed they would not be nominating Deputy St Pier for an immediate return.. ‘Further to Deputy St Pier’s decision to resign from Policy & Resources, the other four members will shortly invite expressions of interest from any States member who wishes to be considered as the committee’s preferred candidate,’ said president Lindsay de Sausmarez in a statement.. ‘For
clarity, Deputy St Pier will not be the committee’s nomination.’ Deputy St Pier’s political party colleagues clarified their position following his re-arrest.. Deputies Rhona Humphreys and Tom Rylatt from Forward Guernsey issued a joint statement where they said it was right that the allegations Deputy St Pier is now facing were properly investigated.. ‘Due process must be respected by all involved, including the principle that everyone, whatever their status, is entitled to be treated as
innocent until proved guilty, in light of which it would not be appropriate to prejudge the outcome,’ they said.. ‘It is important that the States of Deliberation has the opportunity to consider his position in light of these developments.. ‘His decision to step down from Policy & Resources Committee and seek a fresh mandate, we believe, provides a clear and transparent way for that to happen.. ‘It enables the Assembly as a whole to reach
a considered view, while respecting due process, on whether it wishes him to continue contributing to the work in the States in his role while the investigation continues.’ Both said they would continue to work on their respective committees and retained full focus on delivering the party’s manifesto.. Candidates for P&R continue to emerge.. Deputy David Goy, who does not hold a committee seat, said that he would like to stand if he can get
enough support.. He said he was still waiting to hear back from potential proposers and seconders.. Chris Blin said that he was unlikely to put himself forward.. He said that he felt he was better placed focusing on the work he is currently leading.. ‘The assembly needs to stay focused on the big issues at this key stage , rather than getting drawn into further disruption,’ he said.. ‘The situation around this vacancy is clearly
serious and raises wider questions, but those should be addressed properly and until those charges against Gavin St Pier materialise, if they actually do, we should be careful to not jump to too many conclusions.. ‘So for now, stability and getting on with the job should be the priority and I suppose it will need to be the assembly to decide which will also reflect its will.’ Scrutiny Management Committee president Andy Sloan said that
Deputy St Pier’s approach conflated two different things.. Stepping aside pending the outcome of an investigation was a way of protecting P&R, he said, but resigning in order to seek a renewed mandate while the investigation continued brought the assembly into the process.. ‘Those two things are not equivalent.. Involving the States in this way risks drawing it into matter that could bring it into disrepute, regardless of how it is framed,’ he said.. ‘For
that reason, I remain of the view that it would be better for the investigation to conclude before any fresh mandate is sought.’