John Alfred Bannerman Gollop

Personal Statement

I have led or sat as a board member on at least fifteen States Authorities or committees and am always well briefed with at times the best attendance record. My 16 years involved with legislation have repaid my mother’s faith in financing my university honours law degree! I was proud to be voted island wide as Guernsey’s Second Disability Champion, and have informally finished second in press and submarine island wide polls but this is the first time for me officially!

• I bring unique Experience, Outlook, Knowledge and Continuity
• I offer a balanced common sense non ideological perspective
• I listen to the experts, and to the people and make my mind up
• I am not afraid to change my mind and move on when circumstances evolve
• I will work hard and constructively with anyone from any party, group of point of view

Manifesto

MANAGING CHANGE WITH LEADERSHIP

I need a strong mandate from you to get decisions moving and ask the questions other politicians don’t want to answer. I have asked more oral questions than any other member.

I am still one of the younger candidates but have focused experience with innovative ideas to offer. I don’t go for too many costly consultants, vacuous visions and meaningless mission statements! What we need is practical common sense combined with knowledgeable gut instinct backed by evidence of what will.work on Guernsey.

The coronavirus crisis has produced effective leadership and good outcomes. But I want a huge personal mandate to make a positive difference for you. I am willing to lead scrutiny, legislation, States Assembly reform or sit on economic development, or policy and resources having acquired unique perspective and continuity of experience.

MY PLEDGE TO MODERNISE SOCIETY

We need to keep our international obligations and promises by prioritising resources to sign up globally treaties to outlaw discrimination against women, and disabled people. I promise to push strongly for the positive heritage of Deputy Michelle Le Clerc, my proposer, to continue. I support the Green Ribbon consensus proposals for a properly resourced appropriate 3 school model with a sixth form academy and rebuilt Institute with lifelong learning and skills for a bright future of human capital.

MY MANDATE TO STRENGTHEN CARE OPTIONS

I believe that any attempt to oblige people to sell their homes to finance excessive care costs is unacceptable to many. I support an equity release scheme as a tool to assist with current private top-up fees but my policy is to negotiate more States Rate care beds and uprate pensions beyond inflation. If necessary, if investments don’t perform brilliantly, I would support increasing the Long Term Care and Health Service fund contribution rates. We need more sponsored sheltered housing with hopefully another extra care complex out west.

A MANDATE TO MANAGE MONEY BETTER

We need our thinking hats on here and there is nothing cuddly about my rigorous approach to fiscal policies. We need to help those of us who struggle with costly household expenditure with more targeted support and less taxation. Many islanders are worse off as lower middle earners than elsewhere. We don’t do enough to help people just about managing. I support raising personal allowances significantly, introducing lower 15% rates of tax and higher benefits limitations and in work incentives such as earnings disregards and an examination of universal personal income ideas.

This can be paid for by restraining higher paid public sector posts, more emphasis on consumption taxes and economic growth by allowing a relaxation of population controls for skilled younger professionals in many industries. I support a reinvigorated public accounts committee with an Auditor General to cut costs. We need a clear economic recovery plan which wisely invests in infrastructure, small business and digital growth and especially air and sea transport inter island UK and European enabling links too.

MY IDEAS ON TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING

I believe in modern Town Centre Management with professional democratic citizen forum consultation with clear enhancement decisions made about future redevelopment of the North Beach area and rebuilding St. Peter Port harbour better. As a UK Green Party member and delegate I obviously support strengthening biodiversity but balanced with economic considerations. I would ban noisy motorbikes and consider restricting minimum age from 14 to 16.

We need clarity on planning policy and practice. Experience tells me we have to choose between a politically directed model and an entire professional process structure. The current mish mash of quarterly open planning meetings, delayed decisions and tribunals trumping political decisions needs a review to change. I will promote more exemptions and loans and grants for energy conservation and historic buildings. We need more green lungs and island wildlife habitats and green field conservation protection.

A MANDATE TO REFORM GOVERNMENT

I believe long term Guernsey would have a clearer, more accountable and open system with a return of Ministerial positions and collective policy co-ordination in a more Cabinet executive-type structure. The role of a Deputy needs re-evaluation as the current position lacks clear duties, research and secretarial support, proper corporate training outside alleged jollies and the payment package is more attractive to retired people and those with other jobs or business roles rather than to a younger and more inclusive gender balanced population. We have a democratic deficit.

I have many other policies to be published later in a brochure.

Yours faithfully,

John GOLLOP