States Reform: is today, finally, the day?

Thursday 02 February 2017

Jersey's politicians will gather today on the brink of one of the biggest reforms to the Island's government in nearly 70 years.

Despite numerous false starts, this week might see them bringing in a new system of government which is very similar to the one which was supported by the public in a referendum - but subsequently kicked out by the politicians of the day.

If they do take the final steps to reforming the States it will be the biggest change since Jurats were removed from the States in favour of Senators in 1948.

But having politicians elected on an Island-wide mandate - Senators - is hanging by a thread following the first day of discussion. 

Deputy Andrew Lewis wants to create just six 'super-constituencies' from which Islanders would vote for 32 politicians to sit in the States Assembly, along with the 12 parish Constables. Those 'super-constituency' politicians would probably still be called 'Senators' although they wouldn't be elected island-wide, as they are now.

He wants the new districts to be as follows:

Reducing the number of States members to 44 would save £233,000 in salaries, but more importantly, would make the number of politicians that each islander can vote for more equal - currently that's not the case, with voters in parishes like St Peter and Grouville being under-represented and those in St John and St Mary being over-represented. 

But States Members haven't started discussing all that yet. Yesterday, they kicked out an early move by Senator Philip Ozouf to keep 6 politicians with an Island-wide position of Senator by 25 votes to 19.

This morning, they'll resume discussing a plan from Senator Lyndon Farnham which would keep 8 senators, all with an island-wide mandate. 

Any changes agreed are likely to be in place in time for the next general election in 2018 - although Senator Farnham also wants them to go to a legally binding yes/no referendum, before the end of this year. 

Deputy Andrew Lewis argues his plans will put right the wrong created when politicians rejected the results of the last referendum on reform:

“Islanders were shocked when the previous States Assembly voted against introducing the reforms that had been voted for in the 2013 referendum.

“It’s important that we acknowledge the public’s interest in reforming the assembly and our electoral system. [My proposition] represents significant progress. Crucially, it creates more voter equity and equality bringing it closer to the Venice convention than ever before. It simplifies our system of government, reduces the number of States Members and yet still maintains strong links with the parishes. 

“My proposition differs from results of the referendum, Option B, in only one regard and that is the addition of two extra States members for the St Helier constituencies. This is important because without these extra posts, St Helier would remain under-represented and wouldn’t meet the terms of the Venice Commission.

“Islanders are disappointed that the States have still not adopted any meaningful electoral reform, despite some 60 propositions being lodged on this issue since 2001.  Failure to acknowledge the outcome of the referendum may well have contributed to voter apathy and be one of the reasons that turnout at the polls continued to decline in subsequent elections and bi-elections."

But if Deputy Lewis's proposals are accepted this week, it might be that the term 'Senator' could still disappear altogether - he says the name is not important, and the politicians returned from the six new super-constituencies could just as well be called 'Deputies' or 'Members of the States of Jersey' - which was actually what Sir Cecil Clothier suggested in the year 2000.