Simon Fairclough

Personal Statement

My career has been spent in public service - working for the States and in public service broadcasting at BBC Guernsey. As the station’s Political Reporter only three politicians have sat through more States meetings than me in the last two decades. So I have a wide understanding of the issues facing the island. And with challenging times ahead I believe we need continuity, but also some change in the Assembly.

• Vast experience and knowledge of Guernsey politics as BBC Guernsey’s States Reporter
• A career of public service - as a civil servant working on environmental issues; and then in public service broadcasting
• Priorities for this political term are the economy, education and the environment
• Transport links on/off island need to be reliable and affordable
• Greater power needs to be given to scrutiny of the States

Manifesto

I am going into the election with my eyes wide open. This next political term is going to be one of the most challenging for many years. Rather than perceive the impact of the recent pandemic as a threat I see it as a real opportunity for the States. However, we need a cohesive group of politicians with a range of different skills that best represent the interests and makeup of our society. I believe we don’t need parties to achieve this. We just need committed people who will work together in the island’s best interests.

Too much time is spent on the floor of the Assembly – we need more concise and focussed meetings and debates.

States members should set policy and civil servants should implement it. This should mean fewer sittings - there have been more than ever in the first six months of this year.
Too much talk. Too little action.

Before every election there’s lip service paid to greater accountability, openness and transparency. When in reality there is now less of all three. We need a proper Freedom of Information law, greater access to politicians and a more powerful and adequately resourced Scrutiny function.

There is much work to do. A debate is needed early in the term on what States priorities should be. Much thought needs to be given to how to revive the economy. The Budget debate in December will be crucial. A full appraisal is needed of States spending – alongside the already planned tax and benefits review – before key decisions can be made on how to tackle the inevitable deficit in public finances and how to pay back the massive borrowing. Investment is needed in the local economy.

We need to focus more on our environment. While targets have been set to tackle climate change we should be more ambitious in achieving them. There should be incentives for greener energy use, generation and energy efficiency. Our open and wild spaces need protection – native species and habitats are at risk and in decline. The islands’ unique marine environment and fisheries need appropriate management. Far too many “agricultural fields” are being converted to gardens. The Island Development Plan needs to be revisited.

The way secondary education is delivered should be resolved once and for all. The mishandling of this over the last two Assemblies shows we need change in the makeup of the States. This was one of the major election issues 4 years ago and the last Assembly failed to deliver. I am in favour of three States secondary schools, not two, but I believe we need to await the outcome of the review of possible models before making a FINAL commitment. Students, teachers and parents have been messed around for far
too long.

The States also failed to deliver on another one of the key election issues four years ago – the islands’ transport links. These have deteriorated, not improved. FlyBE has disappeared and Blue Islands has effectively relocated to Jersey. Establishing reliable, sustainable and affordable connections with our closest neighbours - by air and sea - has to be a priority. I would like to see the Frontier Economics Report on a possible runway extension brought forward and debated as a matter of priority. The States also has to decide what it wants from its own airline. There is little strategic direction and taxpayers could end up subsiding Aurigny more than £20m this year alone. This is unsustainable. Much thought needs to be given as to the future strategic direction of our airline. Transport links will be essential as we try to help the island’s visitor economy back to its feet.

In my opinion too much time and resources have been spent on reviews, plans and strategies, rather than getting things done. An expensive housing strategy took years, yet not a single unit of affordable housing has been built this term. Too much money is wasted on consultants. An expensive review of all States property is overdue. This is our money.

The States have passed significant social policy reforms in recent months but I now want to see the requisite laws brought forward. Work has begun on the issue of funding long term care for the elderly but real progress is now necessary. More support should be given to carers and those who look after the vulnerable in the community. The work done by local charities is amazing and the third sector needs the full backing of the States.

The focus in health should be tackling the backlog of operations and treatments for islanders, and honouring the commitment made to spending on NICE treatments. It should be more affordable to see a doctor. Prescriptions for the elderly need to be kept low. And a Reciprocal Health Agreement with the UK should be revisited.

Sport is of vital importance to the island. Along with a resolution to the education debate I want to see sport move up the agenda of ESC with all the benefits it can bring, economically, socially and health wise.

I do not pretend to have all the answers but, if elected, will work hard with others and act with integrity in the best interests of the Bailiwick. I am keen to learn and will listen to your views, try to answer your questions and look forward to meeting you in the coming weeks.

Please consider using one of your votes for Simon FAIRCLOUGH on October 7th.

Thank you.