Pandemic team tops the polls in Guernsey

Friday 09 October 2020

The political pair leading Guernsey's response to the pandemic topped the polls in the island's first island-wide election, which saw a record turnout of 80%.

Previous Chief Minister Gavin St. Pier topped the polls with 13,925 votes, followed by former Health President Deputy Heidi Soulsby second with 12,782.

119 candidates were on the ballot sheet for Guernsey’s first island-wide election and 38 of those will now serve the island as States Deputies after a history-making election, which saw a near 80% turnout and more than 24,000 voters. 

In total, 637,770 votes were cast, averaging 26 votes per voter. 

Pictured: The election count began at 09:00 yesterday and results were announced at around 01:00 this morning.

17 of the 38 successful are new candidates, representing almost half of the new Assembly, and will be sworn in later this month.

Meanwhile, 11 of the current deputies were kicked out of the States, including Barry Brehaut and Mary Lowe, who served for 26 years.

Among others to lose their seats were President of Education, Sport and Culture, Deputy Matt Fallaize, and President of Environment and Infrastructure, Deputy Brehaut - both of whom have faced public criticism over the last four years. Neither were present at the declaration. 

Pictured: Deputy Mary Lowe saw her 26-year stint in the States come to an end.

Deputy Fallaize received a lot of public attention over the past year, after his committee brought plans for a 'two-school' model for secondary education.

Deputies Rhian Tooley and Mark Dorey, who served on ESC alongside Deputy Fallaize, were also unsuccessful in their attempts to be re-elected.

Meanwhile, Deputy Brehaut was criticised for his committee's actions to reduce speed limits across the island and for proposing the infill of inert waste at Spur Point.

Pictured: Mark Helyar was the new candidate with the most votes.

The Guernsey Partnership of Independents came out swinging, with its leader Gavin St. Pier topping the polls and 11 total candidates in the new Assembly.  

The Guernsey Party was not far behind, with six new deputies from just nine candidates and its founder, Mark Helyar, reaching fourth place. 

The Alliance Party, on the other hand, failed to gain any seats in the next States Assembly.