ASSISTANT Home Affairs Minister Andrew Lewis (pictured) is to step down from the States.

The Deputy says that he will not be standing for a second term in St John. His decision means there will be an entirely new team at Home Affairs. The minister, Senator Wendy Kinnard, has already announced that she is retiring from politics.

In 2005, Deputy Lewis won the first contested election in the parish in 12 years, receiving 524 votes to his nearest challenger’s 290. He said: ‘After much deliberation, I have made the difficult decision not to stand as Deputy of St John for a second term. I have thoroughly enjoyed the challenge of representing the parishioners of St John and for being given the opportunity of participating in the States Assembly.

The former Deputy he replaced, Phil Rondel, could be making a comeback. He was in the public gallery for the States sitting a fortnight ago and was a spectator at the nominations meeting for Senatorial candidates last week. Deputy Rondel’s decision to step aside in 2005 left the field open for Deputy Lewis, a former chairman of the Institute of Directors, to take on the role.