Deputy: Ministers using “dodgy tactics” to crush backbenchers’ ideas

Wednesday 11 October 2017

A politician has lambasted Ministerial tactics to crush ideas put forward by backbenchers.

Deputy Carolyn Labey had hoped to bring forward a proposal to help remove JEC’s monopoly on the electricity market, regulate the industry using CICRA and pave the way for renewable energy.

But States Members decided yesterday to put off making a decision on her ideas until January next year after a petition from Treasury Minister Alan Maclean.

Deputy Labey told Express that she was “fuming” following the decision, which had allegedly been preceded by “dodgy tactics” by Ministers.

Pictured: Deputy Labey said that Treasury Minister Alan Maclean and Senator Philip Ozouf had put pressure on her to withdraw the proposal.

She said that she had been heavily leant on by on two ministers and Senator Philip Ozouf to withdraw her idea in the run-up to the debate. When she refused, the Council of Ministers had apparently instead pushed for the debate to be postponed on the grounds that more research needed to be done first and that CICRA may not be the most appropriate body to undertake regulatory work - concerns that were not raised until very shortly before the debate.

“They brought me under so much pressure to withdraw or defer and I said, ‘I’m not going to do that, I’m serving my constituents so I’m not doing either.’ …If they don’t agree with a proposition, bring an amendment or vote against it, but let’s have the honesty of the debate,” she commented.

Deputy Labey added that the Treasury Minister, who holds responsibility for the States’ 68% share in JEC, gave a presentation to States members in which he put forward the company’s side on Monday when she was off-island. This was unfair, she said, because such resources were not available to her and meant that there was not a level playing field between Ministers and backbench politicians.

What an absolute disgrace. What are the COM afraid of? Why can't well researched and prepared States Members bring forward propositions?

— Carolyn Labey (@CarolynLabey) October 10, 2017

“I can’t do that as a backbencher. I was going to use the debate to put my side of the story forward, but a lot of [States members’] minds were made up before they even got to the debate, and I just think it’s so wrong. The States Chamber is where we should be having our debates, not in some back room,” she commented. 

While Deputy Labey has vowed to continue fighting the proposal and will bring it back in full force come January, she has said that this is indicative of a wider culture of senior politicians ignoring backbenchers – or even rallying against their ideas, before later bringing them back under their own stamp.

“Everything I’m proposing is quite reasonable… I’m putting [renewable energy] on the agenda where it hasn’t been before, and I’m really quite angry that the Council of Ministers behave like this every time a backbencher brings something forward. You know if you’ve got a good proposition because I’ve been asked now be three members – two of which are in the Council of Ministers – to withdraw, defer, all the rest of it, so you know you’re onto something when you’re asked that,” she told the Assembly in a bid to get them to continue the debate.

Pictured: Deputy Labey said that opinions should be aired openly in the States Chamber, rather than discussed behind the scenes.

Speaking to Express, she later expressed concerns that the Council’s apparent opposition to non-ministerial politicians could affect their ability to effectively represent their constituents.

“Backbenchers are certainly not allowed to win debates, but if you bring something forward you’re really up against it… You’re not allowed to serve your constituents.” 

Despite the debate’s withdrawal, Deputy Labey’s efforts were largely welcomed in yesterday’s debate, earning approbation at various points and with Senator Ozouf going so far as to say that she had “already won” because JEC had agreed to delay the introduction of a controversial charge she had been campaigning against from November to March. Minister for the Environment Deputy Steve Luce even conceded that he was "disappointed, indeed almost embarrassed that she has to bring this proposition to the Assembly" that he had not already been able to deliver on this issue, adding that he was committed to help bring forward a solution.

The debate will now take place on 30^th January 2018.