ST Peter Constable Richard Vibert has announced he will stand for re-election this year but will not join a political party as he feels that doing so would conflict with his duty to represent parishioners.

Mr Vibert was elected unopposed in 2018, having previously served as the parish chef de police.

‘I won’t be joining a political party. I have been approached but I said no because you have to agree with the manifesto of the party,’ he said.

‘I think one has to consider that the Constables have a duty to represent parishioners and it’s quite likely that following a party manifesto could exclude a great number of parishioners. Maybe that will change in the future.

‘I wouldn’t rule out ever joining a party but I have made the decision not to for this election because of those concerns,’ he added.

During Mr Vibert’s last term of office, two major issues affecting St Peter captured Islandwide attention.

These were the stalled attempt to develop the Ville du Manoir family-housing scheme on farmland opposite the Sir George Carteret pub and the closure of Le Port car park in St Ouen’s Bay to campervan owners.