Future Guernsey
| Founded | December 1, 2021 (first iteration) November 28, 2024 (relaunched) |
|---|---|
| Type | Political movement |
| Legal status | Active (unregistered) |
| Purpose | Policy development and political advocacy |
| Headquarters | Guernsey |
Political Adviser | Gavin St Pier (2024–2025) |
Chairman | John Hardie (2024–present) |
Chief Executive | Lindsey Freeman (2024–present) |
| Website | www |
Future Guernsey is a political movement in Guernsey focused on policy development and political advocacy. Originally founded in 2021 as a political party by Gavin St Pier, it was later de-registered and relaunched in November 2024 as an unregistered policy movement.[1] Future Guernsey is deliberately structured to avoid registration as a political party, which prevents it from legally endorsing candidates but allows it to focus on policy development without electoral law constraints.
The organization developed a comprehensive political manifesto that was subsequently adopted "in its entirety" by the separate Forward Guernsey political party for the 2025 Guernsey general election.[2]
History
[edit]First iteration (2021)
[edit]Future Guernsey was first launched in December 2021 by Gavin St Pier as a successor to the dissolved Guernsey Partnership of Independents.[3] St Pier described this initial version as "fiscally and environmentally responsible and socially liberal".[3] This first iteration was registered as a political party but was later de-registered.
Relaunch as policy movement (2024)
[edit]Future Guernsey was relaunched on 28 November 2024 at the Performing Arts Centre in St Peter Port, with more than 250 people attending the launch event.[4] The relaunched organization was deliberately structured as an unregistered movement rather than a political party.
The 2024 version established a different leadership structure, with St Pier serving as Political Adviser, former ITN chief executive John Hardie as Chairman, and communications consultant Lindsey Freeman as Chief Executive.[5]
Purpose and structure
[edit]Policy development focus
[edit]Future Guernsey's primary purpose is policy development and political advocacy without the legal constraints faced by registered political parties. The organization conducted research showing that only 13% of islanders believed Guernsey's political system was working effectively.[6]
The movement developed what St Pier described as "the most detailed policy programme ever presented to voters locally".[7]
Legal limitations
[edit]As an unregistered political movement, Future Guernsey cannot legally endorse or support candidates in elections under Guernsey electoral law.[8] This limitation was acknowledged from the organization's relaunch, with St Pier stating that any electoral activity would require a separate registered political party.
Policy platform
[edit]Future Guernsey's manifesto focuses on six core policy areas:
Housing
[edit]The movement proposes innovative housing policies including a tax-efficient Guernsey Property Savings Account (GPSA) modeled on the UK's Lifetime Individual Savings Account, allowing up to £60,000 to be saved tax-free for rental deposits or home purchases.[9]
Economic growth
[edit]Future Guernsey emphasizes the need to increase economic productivity and encourage business investment as central to addressing other policy challenges.[10]
Public finances
[edit]The organization proposes a 1% real terms reduction in committee baseline operating expenditure annually, which would cumulatively produce savings of at least £25 million.[11]
Health, education, and climate change
[edit]The manifesto addresses healthcare provision for an aging population, educational funding and infrastructure, and environmental responsibility measures including climate transition policies.[12]
Relationship with Forward Guernsey
[edit]Electoral vehicle creation
[edit]Due to Future Guernsey's inability to endorse candidates, Gavin St Pier launched Forward Guernsey as a separate registered political party in April 2025.[13] Forward Guernsey adopted Future Guernsey's manifesto "in its entirety", creating what St Pier described as a unique structure in Guernsey politics.[14]
Organizational separation
[edit]Upon launching Forward Guernsey, St Pier resigned his role as Political Adviser to Future Guernsey to maintain the legal separation between the organizations.[15] This structure allows Future Guernsey to continue policy development work while Forward Guernsey handles electoral activities.
Philosophy and approach
[edit]Future Guernsey promotes what it calls "policy over personality" politics, arguing that Guernsey's system of independent deputies creates "endemic inertia and indecision".[16] The organization advocates for policy-based governance structures as an alternative to personality-driven politics.
St Pier has described the current States Assembly as comprising "38 individual deputies with 38 individual agendas", resulting in a body that "may comprise individuals who all mean well but are collectively and systemically dysfunctional".[17]
See also
[edit]- Forward Guernsey
- Gavin St Pier
- Guernsey Partnership of Independents
- Politics of Guernsey
- 2025 Guernsey general election
References
[edit]- ^ "Guernsey politician to spearhead new 'political movement' ahead of 2025 election". ITV News Channel. 28 November 2024.
- ^ "Gavin St Pier: 'It is time to move Guernsey forward'". Guernsey Press. 14 April 2025.
- ^ a b "Deputy Gavin St Pier launches new political party". Bailiwick Express. 1 December 2021.
- ^ "'Political movement' Future Guernsey launched". BBC News. 28 November 2024.
- ^ "Guernsey politician to spearhead new 'political movement' ahead of 2025 election". ITV News Channel. 28 November 2024.
- ^ "Guernsey politician to spearhead new 'political movement' ahead of 2025 election". ITV News Channel. 28 November 2024.
- ^ "Forward Guernsey without St Pier's former party allies". Guernsey Press. 18 April 2025.
- ^ "Gavin St Pier: 'It is time to move Guernsey forward'". Guernsey Press. 14 April 2025.
- ^ "Gavin St Pier: 'Guernsey needs a plan, not political slogans'". Guernsey Press. 30 April 2025.
- ^ "Gavin St Pier: 'Guernsey needs a plan, not political slogans'". Guernsey Press. 30 April 2025.
- ^ "Gavin St Pier: 'Guernsey needs a plan, not political slogans'". Guernsey Press. 30 April 2025.
- ^ Matt Fallaize (29 November 2024). "WATCH: Future Guernsey expects to develop into registered party". Guernsey Press.
- ^ "Forward Guernsey political party launches". BBC News. 11 April 2025.
- ^ "Gavin St Pier: 'It is time to move Guernsey forward'". Guernsey Press. 14 April 2025.
- ^ "Gavin St Pier: 'It is time to move Guernsey forward'". Guernsey Press. 14 April 2025.
- ^ "St Pier working on forming new political party for next year". Guernsey Press. 21 October 2024.
- ^ "Gavin St Pier: 'It is time to move Guernsey forward'". Guernsey Press. 14 April 2025.