New proposal would increase size of States

New proposal would increase size of States

Senator Lyndon Farnham is backing a bid to retain the office of Senator but has now lodged his own amendment, which would add an extra three Deputy seats to Senator Ian Gorst’s proposals.

In December the Assembly approved, in principle, wide-ranging changes to the Island’s electoral landscape and composition in time for the next election – currently due to be held in May 2022. The original proposals retained 49 States Members, including 37 Deputies elected across nine larger voting districts and the 12 Constables while the Islandwide mandate would be scrapped. The changes are due to be brought back before the Assembly next week for final ratification.

However, Senator Gorst lodged an amendment to a proposition from the Privileges and Procedures Committee designed to enact the changes approved by the in-principle decision. Under Senator Gorst’s amendment the Island’s eight Senatorial seats would be retained alongside 28 Deputies in the nine proposed constituencies and the 12 parish Constables.

And Senator Farnham has now called for 31 Deputies to be elected in a move he argues would ‘improve voter equity even further’. If approved alongside Senator Gorst’s amendment the number of States Members would increase to 51 – a figure it was reduced from in 2014.

PROPOSED DEPUTY DISTRICTS

St Helier South: Original proposition – four seats. Senator Gorst’s amendment – three seats.

St Helier Central: Original proposition – five seats. Senator Gorst’s amendment – four seats.

St Helier North: Original proposition – four seats. Senator Gorst’s amendment – three seats.

St Saviour: Original proposition – five seats. Senator Gorst’s amendment – four seats.

St Clement: Original proposition – four seats. Senator Gorst’s amendment – three seats.

St Brelade: Original proposition – four seats. Senator Gorst’s amendment – three seats.

St Mary, St Ouen and St Peter: Original proposition – four seats. Senator Gorst’s amendment – three seats.

St John, St Lawrence and Trinity: Original proposition – four seats. Senator Gorst’s amendment – three seats.

Grouville and St Martin: Original proposition – three seats. Senator Gorst’s amendment – two seats.

* Senator Farnham’s additional amendment would add an extra Deputy seat in the St Helier North, St John, St Lawrence and Trinity and Grouville and St Martin districts compared with Senator Gorst’s amendment.

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