THE dust has settled on yet another election and the new Members have this week started their induction into life as politicians in Jersey.
But there’s more to take from last week’s election than simply a new House of 49 States Members.
There’s the findings of the independent election observers, for starters. So far they haven’t told us anything we didn’t already know – that there’s too many people elected unopposed, that the public don’t really like candidates bothering them outside polling stations, that there’s problems with nomination forms and that we have an issue with low voter turnout.
Oh, and in their preliminary report – which will be followed by a full version due in the next two months – they also point out the teeny weeny issue that the presence of Constables in the States and the differences in voter representation in Deputy districts is putting Jersey in breach of international election standards.
It’s good to have someone official remind us of these issues, however. And when I say ‘us’ I actually mean ‘them’, as in those who actually have the power to do anything about it.
After all, the public have long since given up hope that our views on States reform will be listened to…
But there’s something else this election has taught me – that Reform Jersey is nowhere near ready to be a serious party within the States, and especially not the one to lead Jersey into a brave new world of party politics.
And this conclusion may not be for the reason you think. It isn’t, let me be clear, that they just failed to get the votes anywhere really but in St Helier No 2.
It is because their party organisation just isn’t up to scratch.
Take the press releases for their candidates issued right at the beginning of the campaign. They were short – too short – and often lacking in detail, substance and interest.
Surely, a party fielding 18 candidates and around for long enough to have got its act together should have done better from the word go?
Then there’s the weird black and white posters put up across the Island next to Reform candidate posters simply declaring things such as ‘paid maternity leave’. They look like an afterthought, hastily printed out on someone’s mum’s computer then stuck up for an extra bit of attention grabbing. However, the only feedback I’ve had is that they grabbed attention for the wrong reasons, and left people annoyed that Reform thought voters could be so easily drawn in by populist words and phrases, accompanied by absolutely nothing else.
Then, of course, were the issues with nomination forms. Clearly there are problems with the forms themselves or the instructions included on or with them when it comes to party declarations, because two Reform candidates ended up in the Royal Court because of how they had filled theirs in.
Sarah Westwater was allowed to continue in the St Lawrence Deputy race while Marilyn Carré in the end pulled out of the St Brelade Constable contest because of her problems with the form, but before the court could hear the case.
But Reform must take some of the blame for not having done their homework and ensuring each and every single one of their 19 candidates was prepped and aware of the basics. Senior party members were also involved in signing the forms in the wrong order.
And finally there is election night itself. As the Senatorial votes rolled in from across the Island and it became clear that party chairman Sam Mézec was not only not near the top of the poll as many had predicted but not even in the first eight, he disappeared.
His party didn’t know where he’d gone, presumably having taken himself off to bed, and that was him for the night.
Now, let’s be clear, it must have been a tough situation to be in, and an embarrassing one.
But he isn’t the first politician to have been there, and he knew he’d do well in St Helier, which was still to come. He also isn’t the first to throw his toys out of the pram and disappear on election night.
However, he is the only politician currently who chairs a party – and with that position comes responsibility to show leadership, especially when you are leading 17 other candidates, many of who already knew they hadn’t got into the States.
Speaking after the final result – in which Senator-elect Mézec’s impressive St Helier performance saw him take the eighth and final seat on the Senatorial benches – fellow Reform member Deputy Geoff Southern described Sam’s leadership in highly positive terms. He said he was inspiring and an asset, and that the party was extremely lucky to have him.
I’m sure that is the case, but not being present at the party headquarters for those final hours was an error that won’t be quickly forgotten.
