Two P&R members submit resignation ahead of vote

States members are debating a motion of no confidence in the committee members

Two members of Guernsey's top political committee have announced their intention to resign ahead of a no-confidence vote.

Deputy David Mahoney and Deputy Mark Helyar submitted letters to Bailiff Sir Richard McMahon outlining their intention to resign from the Policy and Resources Committee (P&R).

It comes as members of the committee are facing a motion of no confidence.

P&R members were asked to resign by a group of deputies after the committee's plans for a goods and services tax (GST) and tax reform were rejected in October.

'Delay and procrastination'

Deputy Charles Parkinson, who submitted a motion of no confidence in P&R, said they had "achieved very little" in their term.

"Not only has it not led and inspired political action, but it has also frustrated other committees that have sought to take any action," he told the States.

"If it wasn’t their idea, P&R were opposed to it.

"They seized control of the process, but then introduced nothing but delay and procrastination into it."

Mr Parkinson said P&R's policies had "fallen apart" after its tax reform plans were rejected.

He said the fallout from the post-16 education debate had shown the committee had "lost the confidence of the island".

"This term has 18 months left to run and it's very clear not much will be achieved in the remaining time if we retain the present leadership," he added.

"The States needs a less divisive leadership."

Deputy Adrian Gabriel, Vice-President of Environment & Infrastructure, said P&R had "not shown leadership".

"The behaviours I have witnessed... have been nothing short of deplorable," he said.

"We can’t even govern ourselves, let alone our island responsibly, which makes me desperately sad for Guernsey and its people."

Deputy David Mahoney submitted a letter outlining his intention to resign

Deputy Neil Inder, Economic Development President, said he had worked well with the current P&R committee.

He said it was a "tough job" but they had made good progress on matters such as using the States property portfolio better.

P&R has previously warned the books need to be balanced otherwise the States will not have enough money to pay for planned building projects.

Guernsey faces a projected long-term financial deficit of £100m.

Deputy Peter Ferbrache, President of P&R, had suggested the best way forward was to call an early general election.

Analysis by political reporter John Fernandez

Deputies Mark Helyar and David Mahoney are seen as the most divisive figures on P&R within the assembly.

Something the five members of P&R are aware of.

At 08:30 GMT, an hour before the States debated their political future, the committee decided their resignations may be the only way the rest of P&R can survive.

As at the end of Thursday's sitting, the future on the island’s top committee for Deputy Peter Ferbrache, Deputy Bob Murray and Deputy Jonathan Le Tocq looked bleak.

The remaining members of the committee will now hope this move has changed the headwind of this States, allowing the remaining members to survive.

Otherwise, by the end of the day, there could be a new president of Policy and Resources, and the front-runner is former Chief Minister Deputy Lyndon Trott.