So… what just happened over the water? While Jersey was busy debating e-scooters, single-use vapes and the pronunciation of our ‘new’ ferry Caesarea, Guernsey went and elected a whole new set of politicians.
With big names booted out, familiar faces topping the polls, and at least one fake pirate walking the plank, it’s been all change in the States of Deliberation… If you’re from Jersey and wondering who’s in, who’s out, and what this means for inter-island banter levels going forward – here’s your Express guide to Guernsey’s 2025 election…
Who were the big winners?
Topping the poll was Lindsay de Sausmarez, Guernsey’s Environment and Infrastructure President (effectively Minister, but with more ‘Assistants’ in the form of Committee members), with more than 10,000 votes.
Second was Yvonne Burford, the island’s Chief Scrutineer, while Charles Parkinson, Vice-President of the States Trading Supervisory Board (the overseer of everything from Guernsey Airport to the island’s dairy) took third place.
Also forming part of the top polling crew was former Chief Minister Gavin St Pier…
Who were the losers?
…but it wasn’t such good news for another former Chief Minister.
After losing the top job to a vote of no confidence last year, Peter Ferbrache (who many over here might remember for his pointed comments about the “bumbling idiots” of Jersey’s Council of Ministers during the pandemic) also lost his seat.
But it was a close call – Mr Ferbrache only very narrowly missed out on being elected in 38th place by just 21 votes.
He confirmed to Bailiwick Express Guernsey that he won’t be requesting a recount, even though he is the only candidate who would be able to under the rules.
Another notable departure was the Deputy many in Jersey will recognise from their TV screens as ‘the man with the hat’, Deputy Carl Meerveld, who was President of the Committee responsible for the States’ rules and procedures.
Also leaving Guernsey’s political fray is Deputy Chris Le Tissier, who was infamously booted out of the island’s States for a year after insulting people on social media using a fake profile called ‘The Pirate’.
In all, the ‘new look’ States of Guernsey will feature 18 deputies from the current term, three former deputies, and 17 newcomers.
Deputy Parkinson told Express he saw the election results “frankly as a condemnation of the last assembly”.
“Clearly a number of people who were high flyers at the last election have now lost their seats,” he said.
“And that’s, I think, mostly about behaviours…. I thought this election was going to be all about GST but oddly enough it hasn’t been totally about that.”
How does Guernsey’s political system compare to Jersey’s?
In essence, everyone’s a ‘Senator’.
Each of the candidates runs to become called a ‘People’s Deputy’, and those who are successful have an island-wide mandate.
It means, when it comes to voting, Guernsey people have a lot of manifestos to read, and a lot of votes to use up – but they’re not obliged to use every single one.
Does that make islanders engage more?
The first ever island-wide election was in pandemic year 2020, with the new system breaking engagement records.
However, this year the turnout of 72.13% was down from 79% at the 2020 election.
A States spokesperson said the average voter turnout across the British Isles in the last five years was around 54%, although Guernsey’s total number of registered voters – 27,293 – were drawn from an estimated total population of 65,000.
Despite the slight drop in turnout, it still puts Jersey to shame.
Despite widespread electoral reforms which included the removal of the island-wide post of Senator, Jersey’s 2022 election turnout decreased to 41.6% – putting Jersey’s engagement lower than any country in the OECD. Jersey’s next election is in 2026.
Follow Bailiwick Express Guernsey for all the latest updates…