'Floating voters' want education prioritised

With under a week to go until Guernsey's general election, we spoke to some literal floating voters swimming at Havelet Bay to find out their priorities ahead of the poll.

of the Bluetits swimming group said they wanted to see education and housing prioritised in the next assembly.

Yvonne Elliot said she did not believe education had "improved anything" in the last term.

Janine Le Cras agreed: "They've made a complete mess of education."

During the last term, the Committee for Education, Sport and Culture (ESC) managed to get States approval for its plans for three secondary schools and a seperate post-16 campus.

However, it came under fire for a decision to temporarily move the Sixth Form Centre to La Mare De Carteret High School.

ESC has also faced criticism from politicians after poor results in GCSE maths.

Despite this, a number of the island's schools have received positive Ofsted reports in recent months, following heavily critical inspections of St Sampson's High School and Les Voies this term.

After a swim at Havelet Bay and before a bean jar - a popular local dish - on land Janine said: "I used to work in education, in IT.

"It really worries me the way the private colleges appear to be marginalised and demonised, as they're doing a lot for the community."

One of the last decisions made by this States was to ensure private colleges received States funding in future after an attempt by ESC to withdraw their grant.

Politicians agreed to replace the lump sum with a per-student grant system - so, if the colleges take fewer in the future, they would receive less money.

Ms Le Cras said: "If you can't afford to send your child to the colleges, I think the opportunities are limited and, quite frankly, scary."

After swimming to a bobber in the bay, Linda Falla said her top election issue was housing.

She said: "We can't get enough people to work here and we need people to come in, in specialised jobs.

"We need housing for young people to stop them leaving the island, because they're our future."

Housing the island's young people was also top priority for Yvonne, alongside Janine, who said: "I have two children - one is living in the UK because of her work, one is living here; he lives with me in a wing of my house, which, thankfully, is a self-contained flat.

"I have no idea how he'd find somewhere to live, as he wouldn't be able to afford it.

"There's no affordable renting, there's no affordable buying for local. You have to be in a really high-paying job to be able to afford to buy a house, and that needs to change or we are going to lose our heritage."

According to the latest States figures the average cost of a local market property was £580,412, while, to rent, its £2,068 a month.

Post-swim, in the warm at Fishy Tales, the conversation moved from election priorities to the election itself, as frustration built at the island's electoral system.

"I'm feeling confused, there's a awful lot to choose from," commented Janine.

The 2025 poll will be the second time the election has been fought on a fully island-wide basis after a referendum in 2018, which resulted in the current system of 38 deputies being elected in an island-wide constituency.

There was agreement by the swimmers that the system made it harder to decide who to vote for.

Linda has been looking through her copy of an almost 300 page manifesto booklet: "It's very difficult, there's too many to choose from.

"Like most people, I am going through, crossing off the ones I know I won't vote for. I have a big 'maybe' list and a short definite list."

Ms Le Cras expressed some cynicism at the entire process: "An awful lot are singing from the same hymn sheet, and I'm not sure they believe what they're saying, just what they think people want to hear.

"It makes choosing candidates very difficult. I'm wading my way through the manifestos at the moment, crossing out the definite ones, yes, by a few.

"I don't think I'll be using all of my votes, as I frankly don't think some candidates are suitable."

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