These reform options are just a confusing muddle

From Russell Labey.

THE more precise the question posed in a referendum, the more meaningful the result. Europe – in or out? Constables – in or out? What we have before the States for ratification next week is a confusing muddle.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t favour any of the three options. The decision on the Constables so informs how the rest of the Assembly should be constituted, I want to know that result before voting further.

I’m relaxed about the Constables. However, retaining them while reducing the numbers to 42 is Armageddon democratically and all too close to terrifying reality.

I don’t even get a say on the Senators, unless I want no reform at all, which I don’t, so they’re toast and I could spend the rest of my voting life in Jersey never being able to vote in or vote out the Chief Minister, or any minister, because I happen to live in the wrong super-constituency.

In London, I can vote directly for the Mayor and indirectly for the Prime Minister, as the leader of the majority party in parliament serves as head of government. The same system operates in the Bahamas, incidentally, where the judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature, which seems a far more pressing priority for us. I got all that from Wikipedia and saved myself a flight. Just saying.

Fighting an Islandwide election may be inconvenient, arduous and expensive. Well, tough. Improve the system, don’t scrap the vote.

The super-constituencies might force the Deputy of Trinity to finally face an election but that’s the only plus. Indeed the Trinity candidates will have a fight on their hands to overcome the vote in St Saviour, with whom they’re twinned, resulting in the real prospect of no representative from that parish being elected.

The same could be true of St Peter, Grouville and St Martin. The Deputies are the link with the parishes. Try getting a Constable to go in to bat for you with a planning application. Some parish Deputies can knock on every single voter’s door at election time. Welcome or unwelcome – it’s bringing politics closer to people. That will never be the same again.

As for reducing the numbers, the cost of our politicians is infinitesimal as compared with other expenditure. The ones I know work all hours already. How is increasing that workload going to attract candidates or help constituents?

Jim Perchard (JEP 7 February) misses the point. The remuneration review body is independent, the Electoral Commission isn’t and Members certainly should challenge its weird notion of reform and imprecise referendum proposal.