David Dorrity

The manifesto ranges across taxation, housing, education, health, aviation, energy, and civil service reform, offering a broad cross-cutting agenda rather than a single flagship programme. The commitment to support GST-plus, push for States-GHA collaboration on affordable housing, and the aspiration toward energy self-sufficiency and potential electricity export represent a credible stretch beyond the status quo. The scope is wide, though the connecting vision is stated in general terms rather than as an integrated reform programme.

A handful of pledges carry specific figures: the £12 GP visit subsidy, the income tax reduction to 15p for earnings up to £32,000, the new £15,000 social security personal allowance under GST-plus, the 300 homes at Leale's Yard, the £8 million Aurigny losses, and the ten-year runway resurfacing horizon. Outside taxation and health, most commitments are directional, for example working with the GHA, removing barriers to building, encouraging entrepreneurs, and supporting renewable energy specialists, without named mechanisms, timelines or financial envelopes.

The manifesto engages seriously with the island's fiscal position, acknowledging the S&P credit rating downgrades and the need for additional revenue, and reaches a reasoned conclusion in favour of GST-plus while noting the uncertainties around Pillar 2 and a zero-15 corporate tax agreement with other jurisdictions. The caution about relying on inter-jurisdictional tax coordination is measured and grounded. Spending pledges, including an increased GP subsidy, more States housing, and swifter school building, are not accompanied by identified funding sources or savings, and the energy self-sufficiency aspiration and Aurigny partnership idea are exploratory rather than costed.

The Scorecard records a Member role on the Committee for Housing. The manifesto's pledge to apply to sit on the Housing Committee and work with the GHA on affordable housing aligns with that recorded role. The remaining pledges, covering taxation, education, health, aviation, civil service reform, and energy, fall across other committees and depend on other committees and a States majority of 20 of 38 deputies.

A material portion of the text consists of contextual narrative, biographical detail, and statements of general intent, such as working closely with fellow deputies, giving every encouragement and assistance, and doing all within our power, without specifying the mechanism or outcome sought. The taxation and housing sections are more direct, but the health, energy, and aviation sections close with aspirational framing rather than concrete commitments. The overall balance sits between specific and general rather than consistently tight.