Time’s up! No confidence vote on horizon for Guernsey CM

Wednesday 01 November 2023

‘We shall not be moved’ was the message from Guernsey’s Chief Minister and his leading committee yesterday as the deadline to resign – or face a vote of no confidence – expired.

A band of seven politicians began the push to oust Peter Ferbrache and the Policy and Resources (P&R) Committee after they failed to get backing for a key plan to fund the running of the island – which largely hinged on introducing GST.

Deputy Ferbrache said at the conclusion of the debate that he would be seeking an early election because the States were at an "impasse".

But several politicians instead said it would be more appropriate for the entirety of P&R to resign.

That charge was led by Deputy Charles Parkinson who said that he would be bringing forward a motion of no confidence in Deputy Ferbrache and P&R if they did not resign by Tuesday.

Yesterday, P&R confirmed that they would be standing their ground.

Pictured: All the members of the Policy and Resources Committee, which is led by Deputy Ferbrache.

"The Policy & Resources Committee has met today and discussed again the proposed motion of no confidence," the Committee said.

"Under the rules, the Committee is afforded five days to consider resigning before the motion is formally submitted to the Bailiff. The Committee would reiterate that it respects the right of any States Member to put forward a motion of no confidence if they choose to do so. But the Committee has agreed its position was unchanged from its previous statement issued on the 24 October... and the members do not intend to resign."

It's understood that Deputy Parkinson will now elevate the motion of no confidence to the island's Bailiff, who'll then set an official date for it to be debated and voted on.

Express conducted a poll among its readers last week – 62% of the more than 800 respondents said they would want the Committee to resign.