At least four deputies interested in P&R role

Deputy Jonathan Le Tocq (left front row) has resigned as a member of the Policy and Resources Committee, pictured as it was at the start of this term

At least four deputies are interested in the vacancy on Guernsey's executive political committee, following the resignation of Deputy Jonathan Le Tocq.

Deputies Marc Lainé, Yvonne Burford, Chris Blin and Jayne Ozanne have all expressed an interest in the position on the Policy and Resources (P&R) Committee.

Deputy Le Tocq submitted a letter of resignation from the committee on Friday, after he was charged making more than 1,000 indecent images of children, among other offences.

The election for the vacancy on P&R is scheduled for Wednesday but the committee is expected to defer the vote until at least 24 September.

Mr Le Tocq has been remanded into custody and is next due back at the magistrates' court on 15 September.

How will the election work?

The presiding officer, usually Guernsey's Bailiff Richard McMahon, will invite the president of P&R, Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez, to make her nomination.

The BBC has asked who P&R intends to nominate but has not received a response.

Deputies can nominate any candidates from the floor, they just need a proposer and a seconder.

If only one candidate is put forward they will not need to make a speech and the election will be put to a vote in a secret ballot.

If there is more than one candidate, the proposer of each nominee will give a speech of no longer than five minutes, while the candidates will be able to speak for up to 10.

Under the current rules, there will not be a round of questions to candidates before a secret ballot to elect the member of P&R.

Deputy Marc Lainé seconded P&R president Lindsay de Sausmarez's nomination for her role in July

Who are the possible candidates?

Deputy Marc Lainé is a returning deputy who, in his previous term between 2018 and 2012, served as deputy minister for the Commerce and Employment Department.

He is currently the vice-president of the Development and Planning Authority (DPA).

DPA president Yvonne Burford has served in a number of senior roles across two political terms, having been Minister for the Environment Department between 2014 and 2016 and president of the Scrutiny Management Committee.

Deputy Chris Blin is currently not sitting on any committees, but has been given the responsibility to lead P&R's sub-group on offshore wind energy.

Vice-president of Employment and Social Security Jayne Ozanne is a first-time deputy, who currently sits on two principal committees having been elected to Education, Sport and Culture last month.

Deputy Yvonne Burford expressed an intention earlier in the term to seek a seat on the States' top committee

How much do P&R members earn?

An ordinary member of P&R earns £63,181 per year, equivalent to the earnings of principal committee presidents and the president of the States Trading Supervisory Board.

P&R members are unable to sit on any other principal committee.

Following his resignation, Deputy Le Tocq is now an ordinary member of the States of Guernsey, earning £49,151 per year.