Latest news with #LindsayDeSausmarez
BBC News
02-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
What are the priorities of Guernsey's new chief minister?
Guernsey has its first female chief minister after Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez became president of the Policy and Resources Committee (P&R) on Tuesday. But who is de Sausmarez and what does she stand for? De Sausmarez, who has pledged to unite the assembly and end factionalism within the States, was born in Asia and spent her upbringing travelling and studying between the region and Guernsey, according to her further education was completed in Scotland before she attended Durham University to study to Australia followed where she worked several jobs and engaged in charity returned to Guernsey permanently in 2004. De Sausmarez, who has had a long career in the media production industry, including television, radio, theatre and as a writer, first started photocopying film scripts for Granda in London, according to her LinkedIn prior to becoming a politician, she spent nearly 15 years at Specsavers working in the TV department helping to deliver advertisements. Outside of work, De Sausmarez said she enjoyed volunteering, walking and sea swimming in her spare is also a keen touch rugby player for more than two decades and has represented Guernsey many times. In her pitch to States members, De Sausmarez committed to reviewing the island's tax system again by the first quarter of said there was a "clear mandate" to look into the controversial territorial corporate tax proposal again, but said this should be done quickly and in a way that reassured business groups. Housing tops priorities De Sausmarez recognised "many are worried" about new taxes and said every option would be explored, including increasing her manifesto, she said public services must be funded sustainably but in a way that protects businesses, pensioners and working people. Housing appears top of a list of priorities in de Sausmarez's told deputies moving forward with Leale's Yard was not just essential for housing, but also for "reinvigorating the Bridge area" and allowing major infrastructure new P&R president said work completed last term meant there was a "healthy pipeline" of new housing sites coming forward in the coming warned the committee had become too passive with strategic oversight of things such population and promised it would be more open with data and information.
BBC News
01-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
De Sausmarez to be Guernsey's first female chief minister
Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez has been elected as Guernsey's first female president of the Policy and Resources Committee (P&R). She beat Deputies Jonathan Le Tocq and Mark Helyar in the election after being proposed by Deputy Tina Bury and seconded by Deputy Marc Lainé. She received 22 votes from deputies in a secret ballot to become the island's new chief minister. As part of her pitch for the job she promised to review the island's tax system before the end of the year. De Sausmarez said when it came to issues like the island's population, there needed to be a better approach to policy co-ordination from the States' top committee."We need P&R to do some high level strategic planning, rather than constantly firefighting," she said. In his pitch for the job Deputy Jonathan le Tocq said: "I believe strongly in consensus, not combat and I believe the presidency of policy and resources should be held by someone who can unite, not divide." Former vice-president of P&R Mark Helyar received 11 votes, while Le Tocq got seven. Helyar said as P&R president he would ensure the introduction of GST to stabilise the island's economy. Last year the States agreed to introduce tax reforms including a 5% GST, lower income tax rates for earnings under £30,000 and social security reform, to start in 2027.
BBC News
01-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
How does Guernsey's top politician get elected?
Guernsey's top politician will be decided by a secret ballot of deputies on is expected that three people will stand for the role of president of the Policy and Resources Committee (P&R), although anyone can be nominated from the floor. Deputies Lindsay de Sausmarez, Mark Helyar and Jonathan Le Tocq have all expressed an interest in the role. Candidates need to be proposed and seconded by one of the 40 members of the States of Deliberation. All of the candidates will then go up to the top bench to make speeches and answer questions before the secret ballot. The proposer of each candidate can make a five-minute speech, while the candidates themselves can speak for 10 the speeches, candidates will face a series of questions from States members which will last for an hour, if there are four candidates for the position - 15 minutes per candidate. Who may be standing? Poll-topper Lindsay de Sausmarez said she was standing for the role after being encouraged by her said: "I think the electorate has sent a message loud and clear that they want to leave behind the factionalism and division which has characterised the the last couple of assemblies. "I am a candidate who can unite the assembly and deliver on that request." Meanwhile, former Chief Minister Jonathan Le Tocq has promised that, if he is elected, he will build a government of "all talents" by bringing deputies Parkinson, St Pier and Helyar onto P&R. Deputy Mark Helyar said his focus would be on controlling States spending and, if elected, he would want to keep Deputy Le Tocq on the board to deal with external relations, as he had during the last nine years. On Sunday, Deputy Charles Parkinson who had previously expressed interest in the roll, announced he was pulling out of the race and backing de Sausmarez.
BBC News
29-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Charles Parkinson pulls out of Guernsey's chief minister race
One of the contenders to become the next president of the Policy and Resources Committee has pulled out of the Charles Parkinson said he will instead back election poll-topper Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez for the role. "I am pleased to be supporting Lindsay for chief minister, and believe she can bring the new assembly together."Deputies Jonathan Le Tocq and Mark Helyar have both said they will stand for the role at the election on 1 July. After he declared he would not contest the position, Parkinson said: "I hope to gain a seat on the Policy and Resources Committee to assist with the review of tax policy which must now take place."In the last term Guernsey's States agreed to introduce a 5% GST, a lower rate of income tax for earnings under £30,000 and reform social security contributions. Parkinson wants to ensure the island's corporate tax regime is reformed before GST is introduced. He attempted twice in the last term to change the island's corporate tax regime, where currently most companies pay no tax, while big firms pay 10% tax on their profits. Earlier this week, business group GIBA criticised plans to reform the island's corporate tax structure. Forward Guernsey leader Deputy Gavin St Pier has already said he will not stand for the position, but would like to serve on P&R, potentially as treasury lead.
BBC News
20-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Guernsey Election 2025: Eleven women elected to States
The number of female deputies in the States of Guernsey is rising by three, from eight in the current assembly to Lindsay de Sausmarez and Yvonne Burford topped the polls, with Sasha Kazantseva-Miller and Tina Bury coming in the top Andrea Dudley-Owen, Sue Aldwell and Victoria Oliver lost their made up 33% of candidates this year, compared to 24% in 2020. Outside the top 10, first-time candidate Sally Rochester came in was followed by Jennifer Strachan, Munazza Malik, Jayne Ozanne and Haley Camp, who are all new to the Humphreys, another new candidate and member of the Forward Guernsey party, and former deputy Sarah Hansmann Rouxel were the last two candidates over the line. Deputy Tina Bury was re-elected for a second term, coming eighth."It's great to see so many women at the top and more in the list as a whole. I think it has the potential to change the dynamic of the States."Tom Rylatt, a member of the Forward Guernsey party, was the youngest candidate successful in this said: "I think a States that more broadly reflects our community is one that's better placed to serve our community as well."So I think it's fantastic that we have this diverse melting pot of an assembly now." In 2020, eight women were elected, but the number was higher in 2016, with Green is the Chair of Women in Public Life, who's been credited by some candidates as a driving force behind more women standing for said: "We're heading in the right direction, but we've lost three current female deputies I wasn't expecting."Mr Rylatt said, "Almost no-one has worked harder than Shelaine to increase female representation in the States.""She has made a concerted effort over the last five years."
