U-turn over Jersey Youth Parliament likely after threat of public debate

Friday 22 January 2016

A group of young aspiring politicians look likely to get to use the States Chamber after the threat of a debate has piled pressure on a States committee to reverse their decision to ban them.

At the start of the week, Bailiwick Express revealed that the Jersey Youth Parliament had been refused permission to use the Chamber for their four meetings per year.

The Privileges and Procedures Committee had refused their request after being advised by the Bailiff that letting them use the Island’s parliament could “diminish the standing of the Chamber”.

In the days since, at least two angry politicians have threatened to force a u-turn by taking the matter to a States debate – but now it looks like that threat has forced the committee to back down and change their minds.

Emails have been flying around with several Members – including Infrastructure Minister Eddie Noel, St Brelade Constable Steve Pallett and Deputies Jackie Hilton, Montfort Tadier, Murray Norton and Scott Wickenden - all piling the pressure on the PPC to back down or risk making the States look increasingly out of touch and ridiculous in the eyes of the public.

The original decision was made by the committee last October.