Lindsay de Sausmarez

Personal Statement

I’ve been a proactive and effective member of the States since my election in 2016, earning a reputation for being conscientious, constructive and capable. I returned home to Guernsey in 2004, having lived, worked and studied overseas. I’m married to Rollo and we have four children: Tom (11), Zara (8), Theo (6) and Xavier (nearly 2). My professional background is mainly in the creative industries and I have a range of qualifications, including two degrees.

• Overarching Aims reduce cost of living; improve living standards & sustainability
• Professional Skills strategic thinking, research, analysis & communication
• Values honesty, integrity, fairness, efficiency & constructive decision-making
• Principles joined up, long-term thinking, fiscal responsibility & social cohesion
• Personal Attributes intelligence, empathy, pragmatism & open-mindedness

Manifesto

What I’ve achieved so far

I’m proud to have made a positive and practical difference in many ways over the last four years.

As an individual deputy, I have been effective in championing Green Finance, responsible investment, the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, action on climate change and protecting the natural environment, clean energy, active travel and sustainable waste management.

I made the case for various policy improvements, including better governance over digital connectivity, better population management policies for the care sector, stronger, clearer laws around sexual offences and the inclusion of social and environmental objectives in our Covid-19 recovery strategy.

In my constituency work, I have helped many individuals, charities and businesses across a range of issues. I’ve represented the interests both of older people, through Ageing Well in the Bailiwick, and younger people, often working with them directly and through schools.

At committee level, I helped deliver Guernsey’s first referendum, the successful implementation of the waste strategy, the energy policy and the climate change policy, to name just a few.

Beyond our shores, I have good working relationships with counterparts in other similar jurisdictions.

Joined up thinking

The economy, the community and the environment are all dependent on each other. We need to take a joined up approach, rather than treating them as separate issues. We certainly shouldn’t have to choose between a thriving economy or an equitable community or a healthy environment: we need policies that support and sustain all three.

We already have some strong foundations in place. Our recovery strategy, Revive & Thrive, envisages this kind of joined up approach, focusing on ‘building back better’ in terms of the economy, our community and health and care, protecting and enhancing our environment at the same time.

Our energy and climate change policies also give us many opportunities to stimulate our economy, improve our quality of life and support our environment. Both policies focus on the sustainable use of resources, which could simultaneously improve living standards and reduce the cost of living. For example, an initiative making homes more energy efficient could generate more jobs locally, reduce running costs for householders, and reduce carbon emissions whilst improving air quality – a win-win-win scenario.

Long-term vision

Joined up thinking goes hand in hand with long-term vision, which is another essential component of good decision-making. Problems arise when policymakers pay more attention to the short-term effects of their decisions than the effects that will be felt years and decades later, when they can no longer be held accountable – which is why I introduced a requirement for policymakers to consider the impacts of their decisions not just on current generations but on future generations too. If re-elected, that long-term vision will continue to be one of my guiding principles.

Looking ahead

We face many unprecedented challenges over the next few years: how we respond to external factors such as Covid-19, Brexit, climate change and global economic turbulence will shape our lives here in Guernsey, both in the short term and in the long term.

There are many vital challenges domestically too: demographic pressures mean that both our tax system and our health & care services must continue to evolve. We need to strengthen connections within our community and with the outside world, invest in infrastructure and help businesses big and small to flourish. We need an education system that will give people of all ages the skills and opportunties they need to thrive in the 21st century, and a justice system that better supports a free and fair society. We also need to nurture our natural environment, which underpins so much of what makes Guernsey special. Every single one of these challenges, however, is also an opportunity to improve our island and our way of life.

If re-elected to the States, I will use my detailed knowledge of key policy areas and understanding of some of the complexities around Brexit to help the next Assembly hit the ground running.

Getting in touch

You can find much more specific information on my website: www.lindsay.gg. Please get in touch if there’s anything in particular you’d like to ask or discuss in person: I’d love to hear your views.

Proposed by Rupert Dorey

Seconded by Richard Holmes