Why I am standing to be a deputy in the States of Guernsey

I am standing for the States of Guernsey along with a number of others with the aim of bringing back  spending and fiscal discipline and to try to rein back the excessive regulation that has limited growth in our economy for a number of years. The ultimate objective, of course, is to grow the economy, preserve good jobs and improve the quality of life for ALL the people of Guernsey. We do not need more and more taxes and ever more costly and burdensome regulation.

After we get our current runaway spending under control, we should be in a position to move forward with vital infrastructure projects to allow the business sector to flourish and grow the Guernsey economy. This is the only way to create jobs and pay for vital health and social care in the long term.

I suppose that I would be classified as a small government, low tax, libertarian. I was born in Poole, Dorset in 1956 , attended Poole Grammar School and read law at Downing College, Cambridge. Having qualified as a solicitor, I have worked in London with Messrs Freshfields, then as a partner of Maples and Calder and as a consultant to Mourant Ozannes. I am currently engaged as a non executive director of an investment group.  My home has been in Castel for the past 20 years or so. I  am married with 3 adult children who studied in Guernsey and 2 grandchildren.

 I enjoy skiing, reading, gardening, fishing and walking my Springer Spaniel in the lanes of Castel. I also enjoy foreign travel but may limited in that regard if elected to the States.

Our group of candidates forming The Guernsey Party are all broadly like minded individuals from diverse walks of life with relevant experience who can offer the people of Guernsey a clear alternative to the current governing regime. We remain independent minded and we will not operate like a UK party. We will reach out to and work with other sensible Deputies in the States to get things done.

It was never part of my career plan to stand for the States. I was happy enjoying my semi- retirement on our lovely Island. However, it has become clear to me over the last few years that our good ship Guernsey was slowly but relentlessly being steered towards the rocks as a result of fiscal irresponsibility and ideological decision making.

With the current uncontrolled spending, the States are setting us on a path to massive tax increases as proposed in the 2019 Tax Policy Paper from the Policy and Resources Committee. Increased taxation does not grow an economy. Proposals for tax increases are not being discussed ahead of the election but they surely will return thereafter, probably after we have blown through £500 million of additional borrowings and need to start repaying it. COVID is not the reason for this. It has not helped but the rot set in several years ago.

Every penny wasted by the States is paid for, ultimately, by every working family. Unfortunately, we are talking more than pennies. Ten million here, twenty million there and, pretty soon, you are talking serious money.

 I have found the recent handling by the current States of our education system to be quite deplorable. It was this that first opened my eyes to the sub-optimal governance we are enduring under this States .

In short, I believe that four more years of the current States leadership could spell disaster for the successful Guernsey we know and love.

I have spent 4 years on the Public Accounts Committee between 2012-2016 before it was disbanded and so have some experience of Guernsey’s governance and its problems. I would propose reinstating a much enhanced PAC  to include private sector professionals and entrepreneurs to scrutinise major States contracts BEFORE they are signed. We have heard “lessons have been learned” so many times and know they have not. 

 We will pursue some sensible, pragmatic policies to maintain and grow Guernsey’s economy based upon what has been proven to work. I do not believe is slavishly following fads from elsewhere but am always prepared to copy helpful initiatives from wherever they may have been successfully implemented.

If you follow the link on my Home Page to the Guernsey Party website, that sets out our overall ideas. My own special interests are set out on this site. You can contact me at johnfdykett@gmail.com and I will be pleased to answer any questions. If you leave your telephone number and a convenient time, I will call you back.