Future Guernsey 'movement' launched

Future Guernsey was launched by chair John Hardie, chief Executive lindsey Freeman and political advisory Gavin St Pier

A new Guernsey political "movement" has been launched by a former chief minister, the former chief executive of ITN and a PR professional.

Deputy Gavin St Pier will be Future Guernsey's political advisor, while John Hardie will be its chair with Lindsey Freeman acting as the charity's chief executive.

The group said this new "movement" is not a political party, but may lead to the creation of one in the future.

At the launch Future Guernsey's political priorities were listed as housing, health, the climate, education, fiscal sustainability and the economy.

Future Guernsey is not a political party as it has not been registered with the Greffe - the island's court office.

The name was previously announced as a rebrand of the Guernsey Partnership of Independents in 2021, which saw 10 of its 21 candidates elected in the October 2020 election.

It disbanded in September 2021 as members said it was "never a true political party". Those behind the formal launch of Future Guernsey said it would focus on "policy not personality".

It intends to produce a manifesto before the 2025 general election.

About 200 people attended the group's launch event at the Princess Royal Centre for the Performing Arts earlier.

The organisation conducted research into people's political priorities earlier this year

Before the launch the group undertook some research with 250 people, including a number of focus groups, in July and August.

According to the new group, 43% of those surveyed supported the idea of political parties, while 23% were opposed.

The charities research showed only one in 10 people believe the current political system is working, while less than a third said they trusted States members to make decisions.

Three quarters of respondents said they wanted to see a government based on policies rather than personalities.

Future Guernsey said it would publish a manifesto before the 2025 general election

Deputy Gavin St Pier has confirmed he will be standing at next year's general election, while Mr Hardie said he was considering it. Ms Freeman said she would not be standing in 2025.

So far more than a quarter of deputies have said they would stand again.

While Deputies Charles Parkinson and Mark Helyar, who previously said they would not stand, now admit they are "seriously" considering it.

The only currently active political party in the islands is The Guernsey Party, which is led by Deputy Simon Vermeulen and has Deputy John Dyke as a member.

The next election has been set for 18 June 2025.