Weeks after scrapping it, Guernsey brings back the title of “Chief Minister”

Tuesday 31 May 2016

It’s been less than a month since Guernsey scrapped the role of Chief Minister in reforms coinciding with their general election – but now it’s back.

The politician elected as President of the Policy and Resources Committee, Gavin St Pier, has written to all States Members saying that when they’re dealing with other governments, they’re going to bring back the old titles, to make things easier to understand.

Deputy St Pier will be known as the Chief Minister, the vice-president of his committee Lyndon Trott will be known as Deputy Chief Minister and Jonathan Le Tocq will be known as the Minister for External Affairs.

In his letter to his States colleagues, Deputy St Pier wrote: “Members may recall that the States agreed, following debate of the States' Review Committee's second policy letter in July 2015, that the States could adapt titles and offices held within the States, where appropriate, when working outside of the island so that the politician's role is more readily understood.

“The States' Review Committee's policy letters emphasised the need for a degree of flexibility when using titles for those conducting business outside of the island.”