Politics can be a cynical business. That was evident in the States Assembly yesterday as proposals from backbenchers which had been firmly rejected by Ministers, suddenly became the right way forward, once it was clear that they may find sufficient support.
Take a proposal to increase the budget for the Police by £240,000 – prior to the Budget debate, Ministers described it thus:
“….this amendment…would be insufficient to make a meaningful difference and does not take into account the wider pressures across the criminal justice system, which this government has a plan to address…At the same time as not resolving the problem it is intended to solve…”
That was the view; at least until it wasn’t, and Ministers suddenly opted to support it, possibly so that they didn’t end up on the losing side.
But it was their volte face on a cut in funding of £656,000 for the Environment Department which was the most stark, as it goes to the heart, presumably, of how serious the government is about reducing public sector expenditure.
The relevant Scrutiny Panel opposed it, having considered the effect on services, described it not so much trimming the fat, but cutting into the bone.
In response, Ministers submitted comments like, “…it is clear that it is necessary to curb the growth in the public service,” and not making this cut, “…creates an ongoing unfunded financial pressure, which is imprudent and not in line with the principles of financial sustainability.”
In case we were in any doubt, the three sub-headings in their comments were: “Ignores Strategic Reserve Policy”, Contravenes Fiscal Policy Panel Advice” and “Financially Unstainable”.
And that stiff opposition remained, until we are told, “productive exchanges” took place with members of the Scrutiny Panel overnight; and then it was gone. Officials will now find the significant amount of money needed from their emergency fund down the back of the Treasury sofa.
Of course, the real point here is not about the rights and wrongs of the funding for the Environment department, important though that obviously is.
It is that Islanders would now have every right to question the fine ministerial words on cutting expenditure given that their true colours have shown through; it appears that no principle is more important than politics; that the “realpolitik” of any given situation will always trump any sincere commitment to meaningful change.
Or as confirmation of what many commentators have said before, don’t listen to what they say; watch what they do.
