- Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez becomes the first woman to lead Guernsey's government.
- She has pledged "clear decisions" by early next year on the tax package.
- "We need to earn back public trust," she says.
- Leale's Yard, offshore wind and future harbour developments among her priorities
New Policy & Resources President Lindsay de Sausmarez has set out a vision for this political term including a desire to win back public trust.
She has made history by becoming the first woman to lead the States after an overwhelming win in the first round ballot among members.
Deputy de Sausmarez received 22 votes to be elected, ahead of Deputies Jonathan Le Tocq (7) and Mark Helyar (11). It was a marked contrast to the tone set at the start of last turn when the presidential vote split the Assembly.
“The division and tribalism that marred the last States began right at this point in this very vote in 2020 and it undermined trust,” said Deputy de Sausmarez in her speech for the job.
“From the outset, this Assembly, however, feels different. There is new energy, greater diversity and more optimism. We owe it to those who elected us to build on that spirit and show that we can work as one team.”
Tax package answers "by early next year"
She said that the election results showed that many islanders were worried about the GST Plus package and wanted their States to take another look.
“We need a pragmatic, clear and balanced approach that builds on the work already done and reassures people we fully explored every option before introducing any new taxes,” she said.
“I believe my position best reflects where the community is and where it wants to go. There is broad recognition of the need for a more sustainable tax base that people want, more clarity around the numbers, a transparent look at other revenue options, a realistic assessment of the GST plus impacts and mitigations and robust protections for lower and middle income earners and small businesses.
“As someone who is not in any way associated with the previous P&R proposals, I can be trusted to be open minded in this endeavor.”
Real care was needed, she said.
Business leaders have been clear in their opposition to moving to a territorial regime which featured strongly in the campaign by Deputy Charles Parkinson, who stepped out of the P&R presidency race to endorse Deputy de Sausmarez.
“When looking at corporate tax, it's essential that we take the business community with us on any reform journey,” said Deputy de Sausmarez.
“They need a reasonable degree of certainty if they are going to continue to invest in local operations, and we have to be mindful of our position in relation to our competitor jurisdictions, too, but we do need to move quickly.
“Clear decisions by early next year are crucial to maintain confidence, whatever the ultimate package looks like. We need fresh voices to bring the public with us, something that the previous P&R committees, despite their commendable efforts, weren't able to do.”
Building genuine connections within and outside the States
In a sign of a will to work more collaboratively, she spoke of building “genuine links” between P&R and the other committees, having “champions” for each one within her P&R team.
“That's not about oversight. It's about better understanding, enabling better strategic planning and helping policies succeed. P&R has historically kept a sharp eye on the resources, but has been too passive, in my view, with respect to policy coordination.
“The Government Work Plan would benefit from greater strategic clarity and more focus where it makes sense to do. So, I'd like to create new platforms through which we can better use members' expertise and interests and deliver for the community in a more targeted way.”
She will hold regular one to one meetings with committee presidents this term and be available to any member that wants to see her.
“I will strengthen our connection with the community. Our relationship with the public has been badly eroded. Trust is frayed, and we need to earn it back.
“Life is tough for many people in the island with a high cost of living, acute housing pressures and the growing sense among young people that they have no future here, we need to listen better and communicate more openly, not just through one off consultations, but through ongoing, meaningful dialog with businesses, the third sector, young people and the wider public.
“We need to show that we understand their concerns, we're working in their interests, and we are worthy of their trust.”
Deputy de Sausmarez’s priorities:
- Among her immediate priorities will be unlocking the development of Leale’s Yard - the previous P&R pulled out of discussions about investing up to £35m. in the regeneration project which included 314 new homes being led by Omnibus Investment Holdings and the Channel Islands Coop.
- Another cornerstone decision that P&R must lead on is the future strategic direction of the harbours, she said. Options include new port developments at Longue Hougue, reconfiguration or extensions.
- Supporting the Guernsey Development Agency as an economic, social and even environmental enabler. Its work has concentrated on the Bridge, with concepts including building housing at Griffth’s Yard, more restaurants and flood defences.
- Offshore wind was described by Deputy de Sausmarez as having huge economic potential. The States is exploring licensing a development which would be connected to the UK or France.
- The Bailiwick Commission is an opportunity to positively reset our relationships with Alderney and Sark.
- Creating a solution for the Alderney airfield in the short term, while planning for sustainable connectivity longer term. A previously agreed project that included redeveloping the terminal was put on ice last term when bids to do the work were £13m. over budget.
- The Supported Living and Aging Well Strategy: “Sustainably funded long term care is increasingly important, and in considering it, we must take into account its impact on younger generations too.” This strategy is wide ranging, encompassing policy and operational initiatives to support islanders, the businesses providing care and carers themselves.
Deputy de Sausmarez said: “We're now at a pivotal moment in our Island's future.
“The decisions that we make in this political term will shape Guernsey, not just over the next few years, but for generations to come.
“I'm always encouraged to see so many young people in our public gallery as they are today, because they are this island's most important stakeholders, and it is our responsibility to establish strong foundations on which they can continue to build we have an exciting opportunity to reset how we work as a government, to rebuild trust with our community, and to demonstrate to our electorate that when they spoke, we listened, we can show them that we are ready to work together for them.”
The States meets tomorrow to elect the other four members of P&R.
The Quarry
Deputy de Sausmarez was first elected to the States in 2016. She was Environment & Infrastructure President last term and Vice-President for Employment & Social Security.
She topped the polls in the 2025 General Election with 10,721 votes.
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