A WORKSHOP for politicians exploring Jersey’s population challenges, falling birth rate and economic prospects has given rise to an unexpected proposal, with one attendee suggesting a new alliance between Jersey and Alderney.
Deputy Montfort Tadier took to social media after the event to describe what he said was “a consensus in the room” that Alderney should be invited to leave the Bailiwick of Guernsey and join Jersey in a new “super-state”.
The larger island would pay for a new Alderney airport and run a shuttle plane service five times daily, he added.
Albeit that no winking emojis were included in his post on X, formerly Twitter, the St Brelade representative admitted that he wasn’t being entirely serious in his suggestion, which he made during one of the round-table sessions that were part of the workshop.
“It was very much tongue-in-cheek, albeit more serious than the idea of a tunnel [linking Guernsey and Jersey with France], which some people still seem to be very keen on,” he said.
“I think there is a grain of truth in it, in as much as people are frustrated by the lack of connectivity between the Channel Islands, and there is a feeling that we could work much more closely to everyone’s advantage, without losing the separate identity that each island has.”
Deputy Tadier later used artificial intelligence to produce a combined Jersey/Alderney flag which he also shared on social media. He described the process as “blue-sky thinking”, which he hoped would lead on to productive discussions.
Alderney became an official part of the Bailiwick of Guernsey in 1949, when the island adopted a new constitution, and voters elect two politicians who sit alongside 38 Guernsey colleagues in the States of Deliberation.
The northern isle’s sea and air links have been a regular topic of contention, including a long-running campaign to upgrade or replace the runway at Alderney Airport, with figures of up to £50 million cited as the potential cost.
The workshop for States Members in Jersey, which took place on Tuesday, was the second in a series of three events during which ministers hope to receive input from politicians on future government policy.
Chief Minister Lyndon Farnham said the workshop had focused on population issues and other demographic challenges, with introductions from officials ahead of the round-table discussions.
“We’re seeing a fairly fast-moving position regarding the challenges we face in the years and decades ahead, not least the steadily declining birth rate and the impact that will have – it’s certainly not unique to Jersey, but it’s important to address this at an early stage and get on the front foot in order to best understand all the issues and be able to develop appropriate policies.”
Deputy Farnham said the government response to address issues around the falling birth rate would involve two main steps: a programme of investment in key infrastructure initiatives, details of which are expected to be shared in the coming weeks; and a population update which is due to be published later in the year.
