The move would have forced a referendum on the issue if the main proposition had been passed.
But many Members who would have voted in favour of replacing the Bailiff with an elected Speaker later voted against the proposition because they did not want another referendum to take place. And even Senator Bailhache’s close political ally, Senator Philip Ozouf, pulled no punches in his criticism, accusing his colleague of ‘wrecking’ what should have been an opportunity to reform the system.
In the end, even the proposer, St Helier Constable Simon Crowcroft, could not support his own proposition because of the addition of the referendum, which following the adoption of another amendment would have been binding. Instead, he abstained from the vote. He has now vowed to keep the pressure on the Island’s next government to remove the Bailiff as the President of the States Assembly.
Full story in Thursday’s Jersey Evening Post.
