ONE of the most frequent pieces of feedback about politics in Jersey (and so voting more generally) is that nothing ever really changes. The accepted narrative is that all ‘they’ ever do is talk about themselves, so what’s the point?
The last few weeks in the States Assembly provide ample evidence of how utterly misguided that perspective is. In fact, in the hope that we may receive a letter answering this question, are the first months of 2026 a period when we have seen the most wide-ranging set of social (and we’ll come back to that point later) changes in Jersey in, at least, a generation?
Take a look at the evidence of what has been done. New legislation has been agreed mandating changes to our daily lives in Jersey from stalking, harassment and deepfake pornography to cyber-flashing, intimate-image abuse, and sexual threats; as a decision which will come to define this Assembly, they have given (near) final approval to the Assisted Dying Law; the Licencing Law has finally been changed after half a century, most of which seems to have been spent in campaigners calling for change; there has been agreement on ‘no-fault’ divorces; and the 1997 Abortion Law has finally been brought up to date.
Of course, there have been others, but the above all qualify for the title of a major social change. The fact that lots of legislation often gets crammed into the final meetings of an administration is well-known – but still, this one really seems to have covered the miles in terms of social change.
What’s perhaps more surprising is that point seems to be so often missed. Is that because the level of expectation is now so high in the community that they see all of the above as quite obvious changes to make for a modern society, so when they are agreed, the reaction is actually, “what took you all so long?” Or is it that we now expect all change to happen near instantaneously?
If so, that’s a shame, as the changes listed above are all highly significant, quite literally retying the social strands of island life.
However, it is also fair to note what is missing from the above list. This Assembly can certainly be challenged on whether they have had the same sweeping effect on the economic health and future prospects of the Island; on the daily cost-of-living being battled by Islanders; or on the cost of the public sector and way in which its essential services are organised and delivered. Once again, there will be others. Actions define priorities.
