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Minister seeks return to "ideal blend" States Assembly

Minister seeks return to

Thursday 22 September 2022

Minister seeks return to "ideal blend" States Assembly

Thursday 22 September 2022


The Deputy Chief Minister is making a push to return the States Assembly to the previous "ideal blend" of Senators, Deputies and Constables after the island-wide mandate was scrapped at the last election.

The loss of the island-wide mandate was one of the most controversial features of the 2022 election, which removed the seat of Senator, replacing it with 37 Deputy seats in nine ‘super-constituencies’.

Within hours of the June election result being confirmed, Deputy Ian Gorst, supported by Deputy Lyndon Farnham, put forward a formal proposal seeking to reverse the "historic" electoral reforms agreed in 2020 with the aim of making voting "fairer" starting with an in-principle backing of the return of Senators.

He is asking States Members to re-instate the island-wide mandate in time for the next election in 2026, and that the group responsible for policies relating to the running of the States Assembly and elections, the Privileges and Procedures Committee, to come up with proposals. 

Deputy Gorst suggests that doing this could either involve returning to the old system, removing one seat from each of the nine districts and turning them into Senatorial seats, or, like Guernsey, giving all seats an island-wide mandate.

But, acting as an independent, Deputy Chief Minister and Economic Development Minister Kirsten Morel is now making a bid to ensure that, no matter what happens, no Deputy or Constable seats are lost.

In a report accompanying an amendment to Deputy Gorst's proposition, Deputy Morel explains: "This amendment is aimed at ensuring the continuation of the roles of Constables and Deputies in the States Assembly.

"Whilst there is merit in re-introducing the role of Senators with an Island-wide mandate, there is also merit in ensuring that parochial and local views are represented, which is something that would be lost should the Assembly consist solely of Senators with an Island-wide mandate.

"Should this amendment be adopted and the main proposition be successful, then the Assembly would return to a situation in which there are three categories of members, those being Constables, Senators and Deputies.

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Posted by on
This is very simple:

An island mandate for all elected officials and no constables in the state's chamber.

Constables were put in to government in all elections unopposed with no votes. This is democratically unacceptable in a modern day democracy.

Everyone that has a vote in our lives needs to be voted into government, it is high time the constables were resigned to their respective parishes to sort out some of the parochial issues that they are ignoring.
Posted by Jon Jon on
They all need to be on an Island wide mandate, that way we get the politicians we want not the ones who come in by a narrow vote, and come on constables out once and for all!
Posted by Scott Mills on
how about blending good minds and common sense together. Start by opening channels between departments, because inside it's a departmental war.
Posted by John Hamilton on
I sincerely hope there will be a Public Consultation. I do believe there should be Parochial representation in the States (1 member per Electoral District +/- the Constable & then every other seat should be on an Island wide mandate. I would also suggest that only elected officials with an Island wide mandate should be allowed ministerial roles and that committees of more than three members should include elected officials from at least three parishes.
Posted by Keith Marsh on
The system should NEVER have been changed without a referendum ~ Politicians wonder why voters do not turn up to vote, the reason being that whatever promises are made they are never kept.
Constables should retain their seats and every other Seat becomes Senator ~ That way, there is local involvement and Island wide voting.
Perhaps then, members will actually "get on the knocker" when they wish to be re-elected.
Posted by john garner on
How can it have been "ideal" if it elected Gorst Farnham Le Fondre and Ozouf ?
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