A SERIES of proposals for electoral reform was rejected by politicians yesterday, with Members voting emphatically in favour of Constables remaining in the States Assembly.
On the second day of this week’s sitting, Members continued to debate a range of amendments to the proposition by Deputy Elaine Millar to restore the role of Senator, with nine Island-wide representatives elected to replace the same number of Deputies.
When the sitting adjourned at 5.20pm, no decision had yet been made regarding the main proposition, with the debate scheduled to move into a third day today.
Constables’ automatic role maintained
The amendment by Deputy Tom Coles would have seen the reintroduction of Senators accompanied by the end of the automatic right of parish Constables to sit in the Assembly.
Calling for Constables to be removed, Deputy Coles advocated the establishment of 12 Members elected on an Island-wide basis.
Deputy Helen Miles spoke in support of Constables. She described the parish system as “12 separate little bubbles of governance” which, while unusual, was held in great affection by many Islanders and was part of what made Jersey special.
Constable Karen Stone said Deputy Coles had given just two weeks notice of a move that would undo 600 years of history. She warned of the consequences of removing Constables from the Assembly, predicting that parishioners would face a choice between higher rates or cuts in services as a result.
But Deputy Jonathan Renouf said that Jersey’s “unique identity” had survived previous change, including ending the right of Jurats and rectors to sit in the Assembly, and more recently the abolition of the role of Senator in 2022.
Deputy Coles’ proposition was heavily defeated by 33 votes to 11, with one abstention. His Reform Jersey colleagues voted with him, with the exception of Deputy Beatriz Porée, excused while accompanying a relative to a medical appointment, but the only other backing came from Deputies Steve Ahier and Jonathan Renouf.
Commission move rejected
Deputy Sam Mézec’s amendment concerned the establishment of an independent boundaries commission.
The Reform Jersey leader said the principle of equal votes was “absolutely fundamental”, describing the current electoral system as “not perfect, but not too bad”. The system was better than the previous one, he added, and changing it again would involve abandoning the aim of achieving fairness and equity.
Deputy Sir Philip Bailhache pointed out that the previous Assembly had voted in favour of a commission, while Mrs Stone said the Privileges and Procedures Committee, of which she is chair, had decided this was not an appropriate solution for Jersey.
Deputy Philip Ozouf said that setting up a commission was “long overdue”, while also expressing concern about the consequences of making fundamental change to the system so close to an election.
There was also support from Deputy Renouf, who criticised Deputy Millar for a “casual declaration” about her move not affecting improvements to the system achieved in 2022. He said this was careless and wrong, and that a boundaries commission would bring “greater rigour and clarity”.
The commission, as proposed by Deputy Mézec, was defeated 25-19, with two abstentions.
Any other business?
Former Chief Minister Kristina Moore received little support for her proposals to cut the number of States Members, with the election of a group of Senators who would earn higher salaries.
This move was defeated by 37-8, while an accompanying clause about the Council of Ministers being made up entirely of Senators was rejected by 42-3.
Should the role of Senator be reinstated, Deputy Montfort Tadier’s amendment would have seen a reversion to having separate election days, as was the case prior to 2011. This meant voting for Senators took place several weeks ahead of the poll for Deputies and Constables.
Members voted against Deputy Tadier’s amendment by 24 votes to 22.
