David Burt has said that he looks forward to spending more time with his wife and children and reconnecting with constituents after he steps down as premier.

In an interview with RG magazine, available today with The Royal Gazette, Mr Burt reflected on his background, the pressures of public service and his family, describing them as a driving factor in his decision to step away from the job of leading the country this year.

He recalled his young son standing at the window and crying as GP1 drove away from his home.

Mr Burt said: “I just want to make sure I have time to enjoy my family, and especially to enjoy my children before they turn into full-fledged teenagers that don’t want to be seen with their parents any more.”

The Premier said that despite his move away from being the leader of the country, he did not see himself departing politics entirely, stating that he would continue to serve in the House of Assembly and that he had missed constituency work.

Mr Burt said he grew up as an “unabashed nerd” who fell in love with computers at a young age and later turned that passion into an IT company.

He got involved with the Progressive Labour Party in 2003 and was entrenched in frontline politics from 2010, moving from senator to Member of Parliament to Opposition leader to Premier.

While Mr Burt said he loved his job and the challenges it brings, he missed having contact with his constituents and being able to be himself in public.

He said: “It’s not just the scrutiny of the role. It’s that sometimes you just want to enjoy yourself with your friends and not have to worry about a person at the bar who wants to cause a scene or wants to discuss politics when you’re just trying to relax and enjoy your evening.”

Asked about regrets from his time in office, he noted the quarantine hotel policy put in place during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.

He said that while the policy was introduced for the right reasons, it was later overturned by the Government and had caused division.