Guernsey’s first female chief minister got a glowing reception from members of Jersey’s Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, prompting its chief executive to ask whether she was eligible to run for office in Jersey.
Lindsay de Sausmarez – who has been the president of Guernsey’s Policy and Resources Committee since 2025, making her the head of the island’s government – spoke to members of Jersey’s business community yesterday. Her trip to Jersey also included a stint watching the States Assembly.
Addressing members of Jersey’s Chamber of Commerce, Deputy de Sausmarez admitted that she did not own a watch, had never worked in finance, and that she thought Guernsey cows were “just a tiny bit cuter” than their Jersey counterparts.
If that wasn’t enough of a risk to diplomacy, she also confessed to a touch-rugby rivalry – redeemed by a family tradition of sponsoring Jersey Zoo animals.
Deputy de Sausmarez also invited anyone to come forward who knows why Jersey fishers wear oilskins rather than jerseys, when in Guernsey, the standard uniform is a Guernsey jumper.
The deputy’s visit was punctuated by a visit to the States Assembly, where she caught the debate on the abortion law: States Members allowed terminations on request up to almost 22 weeks of pregnancy.
“I really enjoyed being in the public gallery, and, actually, it was a debate that I really thought was an important one,” she said.
The topic of the day focused on the need for collaboration between the two islands, whether for government or for businesses.
The islands were “always at pains” to work together, the deputy said, though she admitted that previous governments had “not excelled necessarily at collaboration”, adding that “it was becoming a real hindrance”.
Businesses in both islands, including in finance, shared many of the same challenges, she said, with housing, transport, connectivity, education and economic growth the top concerns in Guernsey, and Jersey facing “high labour costs, labour expenses and skills shortages”.
Leaving the lunch, some attendees could be heard praising Deputy de Sausmarez for speaking like “a normal person” – and, as she finished her Q&A, Chamber chief executive Murray Norton asked her: “Are you eligible for election here in Jersey?”
