One married couple ousts another in Sark election

Thursday 13 December 2018

One married couple kicked out another pair to become Sark’s newest politicians after the tiny island held its first contested election in six years yesterday.

Despite being home to under 600 residents, the island has its own representatives called ‘conseillers’, who make up the government, which is known as ‘Chief Pleas’.

Given the island’s tiny size, its previously had difficulty in holding an election to fill those seats.

In fact, the last election was back in 2012.

But this time round UK government minister Lord Keen got involved, threatening that the UK may have to take an unprecedented move of stepping in if there wasn’t a proper election.

Pictured: Lord Keen, who warned that the UK may have to intervene if the elections are not contested.

In the end, 15 islanders competed for nine seats, with seven new faces – some of whom among the island’s younger residents – making their way into the governing Chamber.

Two thirds of the electoral roll turned out to vote yesterday.

Helen Plummer topped the polls meaning she'll serve another term as Conseiller, having first taken a seat in the assembly room in 2006.

In her manifesto she had pledged to do her best for the island.

"I would hope I can help be a bridge in Chief Pleas, bringing both the old and the new, the traditional and the progressive, the experience as well as a fresh open-minded perspective," she wrote. She'll now have that chance with another four year term of office, following what has been yet another difficult time in Sark's political history.

Pictured: Sark's government is known as Chief Pleas.

With the negotiations to buy Sark Electricity ongoing, Conseiller Plummer had previously said in her manifesto that she was very interested in renewable energy but she also felt common sense and being sensible is crucial to the island.

Conseiller Plummer secured 205 votes, topping the polls by a fairly large margin considering Sark's small population with Philip Long elected in second place with 192 votes. 

John Guille was third and Christopher Drillot fourth with William Raymond and Amanda de Carteret fifth and sixth.

Ellen and Rodney Lalor were elected in seventh and eight place with Simon Couldridge re-elected in ninth.

Ellen Lalor is one of the youngest members of Chief Pleas elected, and had said before the votes were cast that she felt it was time the younger generation stood up to be counted.

Pictured: The assembly room where Chief Pleas meets.

In her manifesto she promised to help the island in any way she can.

"I decided to stand for election because I believe that it is time the younger generation stand up and be counted.

"I don’t have any big promises or fixed views but I am keen to learn and use my experience of growing up here to help the Island in any way I can."

Conseiller-Elect Lalor's husband Rodney will serve alongside her in Chief Pleas, having met her when he first moved to the island before setting up their family home together in Sark.

They're not the first married couple to serve on Chief Pleas, but on this occasion another husband and wife missed out on election with Diane and Edric Baker both polling slightly too few votes on the day to be re-elected, coming tenth and eleventh respectively in the election.