George Oswald

The Education (Governance Boards) Ordinance, 2025

Motion put to the States: To insert immediately after “of the States” the following: “subject to the following amendment: “To delete Clause 4(7) and replace with the following Clause: “4 (7)The Director of Education (or a person nominated by the Director of Education for this purpose) may attend one meeting of each governance board each academic year, or more frequently only at the – invitation of that governance board, or the direction of the Committee, where the Committee has reasonable grounds to believe that there has been a material failure in governance, safeguarding, financial management, or compliance with applicable law or policy, and has recorded such grounds in writing.".””.

Voting Pour delivers this

This amendment to the Education (Governance Boards) Ordinance refines governance board structure, bearing on the candidate's promise to optimise the current education system.

The Education (Governance Boards) Ordinance, 2025

Motion put to the States: Whether they are of the opinion to approve the draft Ordinance entitled "The Education (Governance Boards) Ordinance, 2025" and to direct that the same shall have effect as an Ordinance of the States subject to amendments below: In section 1 - in the section heading for "Constitution" substitute "Purpose and constitution", and after subsection (1), insert – "(1A)The purpose of the governance board of a relevant educational establishment is to – (a)contribute to and promote the ethos and strategic direction of the establishment, (b)hold the headteacher and management to account in respect of safeguarding, educational standards, attendance, staff performance and professional development, (c)hold the headteacher and management to account in respect of the use of financial and other resources by the establishment, and (d)facilitate and promote the giving of effective and appropriate communication from parents, staff, learners and the community to the headteacher and management of the establishment.", (c)in subsection (2)(b) for "four" substitute "five", (d)at the end of subsection (2)(d) insert "and", and at the end of subsection (2)(e) for ", and" substitute ".", (e)delete subsection (2)(f), (f)in subsection (3)(b) for "six" substitute "seven", (g)at the end of subsection (3)(d) insert "and", and at the end of subsection (3)(e) for ", and" substitute ".", and (h)delete subsection (3)(f).". To delete Clause 4(7) and replace with the following Clause: “4 (7)The Director of Education (or a person nominated by the Director of Education for this purpose) may attend one meeting of each governance board each academic year, or more frequently only at the – invitation of that governance board, or the direction of the Committee, where the Committee has reasonable grounds to believe that there has been a material failure in governance, safeguarding, financial management, or compliance with applicable law or policy, and has recorded such grounds in writing.

Voting Pour delivers this

Approving the Education (Governance Boards) Ordinance, 2025 amends education governance structures, directly bearing on the candidate's promise to work to optimise the current education system.

The Education (Governance Boards) Ordinance, 2025

Motion put to the States: Immediately after ""The Education (Governance Boards) Ordinance, 2025"", insert ", subject to the amendments below" and at the end of the proposition, insert the following: "Amendments: In section 1 - in the section heading for "Constitution" substitute "Purpose and constitution", and after subsection (1), insert – "(1A)The purpose of the governance board of a relevant educational establishment is to – (a)contribute to and promote the ethos and strategic direction of the establishment, (b)hold the headteacher and management to account in respect of safeguarding, educational standards, attendance, staff performance and professional development, (c)hold the headteacher and management to account in respect of the use of financial and other resources by the establishment, and (d)facilitate and promote the giving of effective and appropriate communication from parents, staff, learners and the community to the headteacher and management of the establishment.", (c)in subsection (2)(b) for "four" substitute "five", (d)at the end of subsection (2)(d) insert "and", and at the end of subsection (2)(e) for ", and" substitute ".", (e)delete subsection (2)(f), (f)in subsection (3)(b) for "six" substitute "seven", (g)at the end of subsection (3)(d) insert "and", and at the end of subsection (3)(e) for ", and" substitute ".", and (h)delete subsection (3)(f).".

Voting Pour delivers this

Further amendment to the Education (Governance Boards) Ordinance improves governance structures, advancing the candidate's commitment to optimising education.

Education Governance Board Sursis

Motion put to the States: To sursis consideration of the Projet de Loi entitled ‘The Education (Guernsey) (Amendment) Law, 2025’ and to direct the Committee for Education, Sport & Culture to return to the States with a revised Projet de Loi which— 1. revises and limits the Committee’s regulation-making powers ensuring that powers in respect of the constitution, powers and functions of Governance Boards vest clearly in the States of Deliberation by Ordinance and that the said regulation-making powers remain in-keeping with the scope envisaged by the Policy Letter, being to permit “operational changes to elements of the governance framework” to be made by the Committee for operational efficacy; and 2. sets out in full the proposed constitutional terms of reference of the Governance Boards, including their objectives, responsibilities and delegated and/or devolved powers, to apply from the commencement of the Law.

Voting Contre delivers this

This sursis motion sought to delay/revise the Education Amendment Law governance changes; opposing it (carrying the original legislation) supports optimising the education system as promised.

The Education (Guernsey) (Amendment) Law, 2025

Motion put to the States: Whether they are of the opinion to approve the draft Projet de Loi entitled "The Education (Guernsey) (Amendment) Law, 2025", and to authorise the Bailiff to present a most humble petition to His Majesty praying for His Royal Sanction thereto.

Voting Pour delivers this

Approving the Education (Guernsey) (Amendment) Law, 2025 is a direct legislative step in the education system, bearing on the candidate's promise to work to optimise the current education system.

Amendment 1

Motion put to the States: To delete all propositions and to substitute therefor: “1. To agree a goods and services tax shall not be introduced, and: (i) to rescind Resolution I. 1B. and Resolution I. 1C. of Billet d’Etat No. XIX dated 14th October, 2024 made on 8th November 2024; and (ii) to direct the Policy & Resources Committee to cease all preparations for the introduction of any goods and services tax.”. View this proposition's information page on gov.gg

Voting Contre delivers this

This amendment sought to delete all propositions and direct that GST shall not be introduced, directly opposing the candidate's commitment to an honest debate about GST as part of fairer taxation reform.

Amendment 2

Motion put to the States: To insert an additional proposition as follows: “5.To direct the Policy & Resources Committee to cease immediately all work on the introduction of any form of territorial corporation tax, including as part of the options being examined within the fundamental restructuring of Guernsey’s corporate tax regime, and to direct the Policy & Resources Committee to amend the Terms of Reference for the Tax Review Sub Committee by amending the first bullet-point under the heading “In scope” to read: “The taxation of company profits (specifically excluding a system of territorial corporate tax) having due regard to the need to maintain a tax system which is competitive, internationally acceptable and maintains tax neutrality;”.”. View this proposition's information page on gov.gg

Voting Contre delivers this

This amendment sought to cease all work on territorial corporation tax, working against the candidate's commitment to a fairer, broader taxation system.

Why this counts against the promise: Deputy George Oswald, who promised to push for a fairer, broader, and more balanced taxation system including honest debate about all tax options such as GST, voted Pour on 26 February 2026 on a motion to immediately halt all work on territorial corporation tax and exclude it from the Tax Review Sub Committee's scope, a vote that works against delivering that promise by shutting down rather than enabling an open and broad examination of taxation options.

Proposition 1a

Motion put to the States: 1. To agree that, should the States decide in the second quarter of 2026 to adopt Workstream 1 of the Tax Reform proposals, a. the individual standard rate of income tax shall be reduced to 15%, with 20% becoming an individual higher rate of income tax; and the higher rate will apply at a defined threshold (£32,400) as agreed on 8 November 2024, with appropriate adjustments to reflect the impact of inflation between that date and the date of implementation;

Voting Pour delivers this

This proposition agreed to reduce the individual standard income tax rate to 15% as part of tax reform, bearing on the candidate's commitment to a fairer and more balanced taxation system.

Proposition 3

Motion put to the States: 3. To direct the Policy & Resources Committee to give detailed consideration to the requirement for a two-thirds parliamentary majority to approve any future increase in the rate of GST, and present this for consideration by the States in the second quarter of 2026.

Voting Pour delivers this

This directed consideration of requiring a two-thirds majority to increase GST, part of the broader GST framework debate the candidate committed to engaging with honestly.

Why this counts against the promise: Deputy George Oswald, having promised to push for fairer, broader taxation and honest debate about GST, voted Contre on 26 February 2026 on a motion directing the Policy & Resources Committee to give detailed consideration to requiring a two-thirds parliamentary majority for any future GST rate increase — a vote that worked against facilitating the open, structured parliamentary scrutiny of GST that his promise implied.

Government Work Plan 2026-2029

Motion put to the States: To direct the Policy & Resources Committee, working with Principal Committees, to establish a programme for zero-based budgeting, under which material areas of States’ expenditure are reviewed from first principles rather than by reference to historical baselines; and to require that the scope, methodology (including reporting) and initial findings of this programme be included by no later than in the mid-term Government Work Plan report, with the outcomes of such reviews used to inform Committee Work Plans, future budget proposals, and major policy decisions during the remainder of the term.”

Voting Pour delivers this

This established a zero-based budgeting programme, directly bearing on the candidate's promise to push for productivity measurement and value for money in public services.

Government Work Plan 2026-2029

Motion put to the States: To insert an additional proposition as follows: “6.To direct the Policy & Resources Committee, working with Principal Committees, to establish a programme for zero-based budgeting, under which material areas of States’ expenditure are reviewed from first principles rather than by reference to historical baselines; and to require that the scope, methodology (including reporting) and initial findings of this programme be included by no later than in the mid-term Government Work Plan report, with the outcomes of such reviews used to inform Committee Work Plans, future budget proposals, and major policy decisions during the remainder of the term.”

Voting Pour delivers this

This directed a zero-based budgeting programme reviewing expenditure from first principles, advancing the candidate's commitment to ensuring value for money in public services.

Government Work Plan 2026-2029

Motion put to the States: 1. To insert an additional proposition as follows: “ To direct the Policy & Resources Committee to incorporate into the Funding and Investment Plan, in consultation with all Committees, a structured public service efficiency programme that targets a 1% real-terms annual reduction in baseline public expenditure for the years 2027,2028, and 2029 (with 2026 as the baseline year).”

Voting Pour delivers this

This motion directed a structured public service efficiency programme targeting 1% real-terms annual reduction, directly advancing the candidate's promise to push for productivity and value for money in public services.

Why this counts against the promise: Deputy George Oswald, who promised to insist on value for money and push for productivity measurement in public services, voted Contre on 29 January 2026 against a motion to direct the Policy & Resources Committee to incorporate a structured public service efficiency programme targeting a 1% real-terms annual reduction in baseline public expenditure, a vote that worked against delivering that commitment.

The States of Guernsey Annual Budget for 2026

Motion put to the States: To insert a new proposition: “1a.To direct the Policy & Resources Committee working with the Committee for Housing, as part of the Guernsey Housing Plan, to consider changes or alternatives to Mortgage Interest Relief, including other forms of tax relief, to better assist first time buyers and homeowners in greater need of financial support; and to revert to the States with recommendations no later than the 2027 Budget Report.”.

Voting Pour delivers this

This directed the Policy & Resources Committee to consider changes to Mortgage Interest Relief to better assist first-time buyers, directly advancing the candidate's promise to support housing reform assistance for first-time buyers.

The States of Guernsey Annual Budget for 2026

Motion put to the States: To delete Proposition 1 and insert a new proposition: “1. To agree that the amount of tax relief in respect of mortgage interest paid on a principal private residence remains at its present level of £3,500 and cease the phased withdrawal of tax relief provided on mortgage interest in respect of principal private residences.”.

Voting Pour delivers this

This motion retained mortgage interest tax relief at £3,500 rather than phasing it out, which partially supports homeowners and first-time buyers as the candidate committed to.

Proposition 2 As amended

Motion put to the States: 2. To agree the inclusion of the 26 projects listed in Table 2 within the Major Projects Portfolio - Pipeline stage, subject to the following amendment: “In Table 2 of the Policy Letter, immediately after the words “Complex Residential & Education on Island” substitute the words “Committee for Health & Social Care” for the words “Committee for Home Affairs” and immediately after the words “Beau Sejour Leisure Centre ReDevelopment/Rebuild (Beau Sejour Review) substitute the words “Committee for Education, Sport & Culture” for the words “Committee for the Environment & Infrastructure”.

Voting Pour delivers this

This approved the inclusion of 26 projects in the Major Projects Portfolio Pipeline, including 'Complex Residential & Education on Island' under the Committee for Health & Social Care, directly bearing on the hospital upgrade promise.

Proposition 1

Motion put to the States: The States are asked to decide: Whether, after consideration of the policy letter entitled 'Major Projects Portfolio' dated 24 March 2026, they are of the opinion: 1. To approve and implement the revised Major Projects Portfolio prioritisation approach, including the three Portfolio stages (Proposal Development, Pipeline and Delivery) and associated transition arrangements.

Voting Pour delivers this

Approving the Major Projects Portfolio prioritisation approach includes healthcare infrastructure projects, and the hospital upgrade would be governed by this framework, bearing on the candidate's promise to deliver an appropriate hospital upgrade.

Government Work Plan 2026-2029

Motion put to the States: To insert an additional proposition as follows: “6. To agree an additional workstream to the ‘Foundations for Our Future’ area of focus (under the ‘A Place to Grow and Succeed’ theme) with the objective of ‘Responding to the Needs of the Island’s Young People’, and to direct the Policy & Resources Committee to support the cross-committee coordination of the upcoming refresh and enhancement of the Children & Young People’s Plan ensuring that it: i) hears and reflects the voice of a wide range of children, young people and young adults via direct consultation; ii) consults with third sector organisations supporting the island’s children, young people and young adults; iii) takes into account existing relevant strategies and plans; and iv) provides the necessary resources to undertake that consultation and to support the production of the enhanced Children & Young People’s Plan for consideration by the States of Deliberation.”.

Voting Pour delivers this

This motion inserted a workstream responding to the needs of the island's young people, directly bearing on the candidate's promise to support investment in early years services and skills development.