The Vaudin View

Weekly Reality Check for Guernsey

Week of August 4-10, 2025

SCANDAL, COVER-UPS, AND CARPET CRUMBS: ANOTHER WEEK IN PARADISE

Mes amis, what a week it’s been in our supposedly tranquil little tax haven. While the establishment media focuses on carpet allowances and tourism fluff, the real story is corruption, systemic failure, and the complete disconnect between our so-called representatives and the people they’re supposed to serve.

THE LE TOCQ AFFAIR: CORRUPTION AT THE TOP

Let’s start with the elephant in the room that our local media seems determined to tiptoe around. Deputy Peter Le Tocq has been arrested, forcing Guernsey to appoint an interim External Relations Lead after “unexpected development” – what a delightfully sanitized way of describing what appears to be criminal charges against one of our most senior politicians.
But here’s what really makes my blood boil – where is the transparency? The States machinery has swung into action with “swift measures to ensure continuity,” but what about accountability? What about democracy? The people of Guernsey deserve to know:
  • What exactly was Le Tocq arrested for?
  • How long has this investigation been ongoing?
  • What other Deputies knew about this?
  • How does this impact our relationship with the Crown Dependencies and UK?
Instead, we get corporate speak about “continuity” and “interim appointments.” This is exactly the kind of establishment cover-up that shows why our entire political system needs demolishing and rebuilding from scratch.
MY DEMAND: Full disclosure within 48 hours, or I’ll be using Freedom of Information laws to drag every detail into the light. The people’s business should be conducted in public, not in smoky back rooms.

CARPET CRUMBS: THE STATES’ IDEA OF REVOLUTIONARY CHANGE

Meanwhile, while potential corruption rocks our External Relations portfolio, what’s grabbing headlines? States housing tenants no longer having to pay for their own carpets when they move in.
Sweet Jesus and all the saints.
THIS IS NOT PROGRESS. This is an insult to every working family being priced out of their own island. While our young people emigrate because they can’t afford £2,000/month for a one-bedroom flat, and local families live in their cars because there’s nothing available to rent, the States celebrates providing basic floor coverings as some great humanitarian victory.
Let me spell this out: If you’re celebrating carpet allowances while we have a housing crisis, you’re part of the problem.
Here’s what real housing policy looks like:
  • Rent controls – maximum 25% of median wage for a one-bedroom flat
  • Wealth tax on empty properties – 10% per year on any residential property left vacant
  • Right to buy at cost price for any States tenant after 5 years
  • Requisition powers for any property empty over 12 months
The Private Residential Landlords Association chairman “welcoming” this announcement tells you everything you need to know – the landlord lobby is perfectly happy with crumbs because it keeps attention away from the real issues.

THE AURIGNY PARIS ROUTE: PRIORITIES EXPOSED

While we’re told there’s no money for affordable housing or proper healthcare, somehow we’ve got funding for Aurigny’s new direct flight from Paris and journalist junkets showing off the island to French lifestyle magazines.
FOR WHOM? Who exactly is this serving?
Not the working families who can’t afford a holiday to St. Peter Port, let alone Paris. Not the young couples saving for years just to afford a deposit on an overpriced flat. Not the elderly islanders choosing between heating and eating this winter.
This is infrastructure for the wealthy – the same people who’ve already captured our housing market, our political system, and our economic future. Meanwhile, our local bus service is threadbare, our roads are falling apart, and our hospital is understaffed.
Tourism should serve islanders first. Any tourism strategy should prioritize:
  • Local employment with living wages, not minimum wage service jobs
  • Affordable local services that tourists help subsidize
  • Environmental protection not exploitation for Instagram moments
  • Cultural preservation not commodification

WHAT REALLY MATTERS THIS WEEK

While the media obsesses over carpets and tourism puff pieces, here’s what actually affects real islanders:

Housing Crisis: Still no action on rent controls or speculation taxes Healthcare: Still understaffed and underfunded
Education: Still producing finance sector drones or exporting our brightest minds Environment: Still being concreted over for luxury developments Democracy: Still controlled by money and closed-door deals

NEXT WEEK’S QUESTIONS

I’ll be demanding answers to these questions in the States this week:

  1. Full disclosure on the Le Tocq situation – charges, timeline, impacts
  2. Housing emergency measures – why isn’t this being treated as a crisis?
  3. Aurigny subsidy transparency – how much are we spending on tourism vs. essential services?
  4. Conflict of interest review – which Deputies have financial interests in property, tourism, or finance?

READER RESPONSES

Thanks to everyone who wrote in last week. Special mention to Sarah from St. Sampson’s who wrote: “Finally, someone saying what we’re all thinking. Keep fighting for us ordinary islanders!”

And to “Establishment Insider” who called my views “dangerous populism” – yes, they are dangerous. Dangerous to your cozy little system of wealth extraction and political theatre.

Remember: Real change doesn’t come from the top down. It comes from the bottom up. The only question is whether we’ll organize democratically or wait for things to get bad enough that change becomes inevitable.

Keep fighting,
Deputy Marcus Vaudin

The Vaudin View is published every Thursday. Send your thoughts, tips, and stories to vaudinview@guernseyemail.com – all sources protected.

Next week: “The Finance Sector’s Secret Influence: A Deputy’s Inside Look at How Policy Really Gets Made”