Thursday, 28th November marked the official launch of Future Guernsey, a political movement formed to activate decisive government and deliver policies essential to the long-term prosperity of all islanders.
A policy-led organisation, built to address islanders’ priorities
The organisation has been established as a direct response to extensive research, conducted during the summer of 2024, which showed that just one in ten (13%) islanders believe Guernsey’s current political system is working. Less than a third (27%) of islanders say they trust States members to make good decisions, and three quarters (75%) say they want to see the States govern based on policy, rather than personality.
A policy platform centred around the issues that matter to islanders
The research also established the main priority areas islanders are concerned about and would like the States to address. Having listened to the research, Future Guernsey has set out a policy platform which will focus on six key areas, namely: housing, health and care, education and skills, long-term fiscal sustainability, climate transition and a strong economy, leading to wider prosperity for all. At the centre of the policy platform is a group solely focussed on delivery. This group will work across all policy areas, ensuring that plans are realistic and achievable.
Policies built by islanders, for islanders
Each of the individual policy areas has a working group established, which has been populated with local subject matter experts in each field. All of these individuals have given freely of their time to work together to build measurable and deliverable solutions to the island’s major challenges. Over the coming months, these groups - together with Future Guernsey - will develop this work into a manifesto, setting out priorities in each area of policy for the election in 2025.
Lack of understanding about local politics, especially among younger people
The research also uncovered the extent to which islanders are lacking information about the local political landscape, an issue that is especially pointed among young people. Just 44% of islanders between the ages of 16 and 29 said they had a good understanding of how Guernsey’s political system works. This rose to just 57% in the 30 to 44-year-old category.
A cohesive, enduring movement
Future Guernsey has been established as a not-for-profit organisation, with Gavin St Pier in the role of Political Adviser, Lindsey Freeman as Chief Executive and John Hardie as Chair. In announcing the launch, Mr Hardie said;
“Future Guernsey has been created as a direct response to what islanders have told us they want – an accountable, unified government that delivers policies essential to the long-term prosperity of all islanders.”
“The future of Guernsey is one where our unique heritage goes hand-in-hand with progress. Future Guernsey has been formed to be an enduring political movement, focussed on embracing the challenges facing the next generation and the creation of an island that is a thriving place to call home for all.”
Absence of policy and clarity adds to the issue of voter alienation
Commenting on the research, Chief Executive Lindsey Freeman said;
“Particularly concerning is the lack of knowledge about the local political environment, an issue which we know translates to voter apathy. We risk losing swathes of the population at the next election, unless we make the political system better understood and, therefore, more accessible.”
“One of Future Guernsey’s main aims is to do exactly that, by setting out a clearly defined, research-based policy offering. This is what islanders have asked for, and what we will deliver. In doing so, we will also attempt to make the system more accountable, so voters will know what they are voting for when they go to the polls next June, something the research also highlighted as being a significant need.”
More islanders support than oppose political parties
The research asked islanders whether they supported political parties, with just shy of a half (43%) supporting the idea and opposition standing at 23%. A quarter (26%) remained neutral, with no view on the matter and 8% said they did not know what their opinion was on the topic. Commenting on the research, Future Guernsey’s Political Adviser Gavin St Pier said;
“Over the coming months, we will create a policy-focussed manifesto and encourage a new generation of Deputies who act with integrity and ability, to pledge their support for Future Guernsey. Most likely, that will require the formation of a political party, so the electorate can see who is committed to Future Guernsey’s policy plan.”
“We envisage that Deputies will retain the right to vote independently on issues outside of our policy platform and we have chosen this approach because we support independent thinkers, but know that – without clear, defined agreement on key policy areas - our island’s government ends up in a cycle of inertia.”
“We cannot afford another wasted term of government rehashing the same old arguments. The time for change is now.”
Watch our launch video here.
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Research was conducted between 31st July and 31st August 2024 and included x4 focus groups broken out by age category: 19–29, 30–44, 45–64, 65+ and x2 friendship triads with young people aged 16-18. In addition, a telephone survey of 250 Guernsey residents between 17-29 Aug was conducted to further explore and validate qualitative findings. Phone interviews surveyed a random sample of Guernsey residents, with broad representation across key demographic categories.