Former Chief Minister Kristina Moore has lodged an amendment to plans to change the composition of the States Assembly which would see seven Senators elected straight to the Council of Ministers – and confirmed that she does not intend to stand for election next year.
Deputy Moore – who was elected as Chief Minister following the last election but ousted through a vote of no confidence in January 2024 – has backed the principle of bringing back the island-wide mandate, but with her own twist.
Both Deputy Moore and Deputy Elaine Millar, who lodged the original proposition proposition to bring back Senators, hope to remove one Deputy from each of the island’s nine electoral districts.
But while Deputy Millar is advocating a like-for-like replacement of these seats with nine Senatorial roles, Deputy Moore proposes seven Senators.
Each would earn a higher salary, based on dividing the nine “saved” salaries between the seven Senators to achieve a figure of around £64,000, with ministerial roles selected from the group of seven.
Forming the Council of Ministers would “provide a clear purpose for those elected to the role of Senator”, the former Chief Minister said.
In the report accompanying her amendment to Deputy Millar’s proposition, Deputy Moore references the “tried and tested model of successful collaborative work” used by the Federal Council in Switzerland since 1848.
“Those who are elected as Senators by the public to the Council of Ministers would hold the credibility of a greater mandate – it requires every vote used to be for a person that the voter wants to hold responsibility for leading and directing the island,” she said.
“Those elected to the Council of Ministers, like in the Federal Council, would most likely represent a diversity of political views and it would be their role to persuade their colleagues to accept and adopt their proposals or to achieve a point of consensus.”
Deputy Moore added that the higher salary for Senators “would reflect the additional responsibilities that would come with their role in the Council of Ministers”.
“The remaining Deputies and Constables would be able to serve as either Assistant Ministers, or as members of Scrutiny,” she added.
In conclusion, she said that her hope is to “encourage a greater engagement and an increase in turnout” for the next election.
In announcing her amendment, Deputy Moore also confirmed that she does not plan to stand for election next year – bringing to an end her 15-year tenure as an elected representative.
The former Chief Minister wrote: “It must also be stated that personally, I do not expect to stand for election in 2026 and therefore I do not consider that I have an interest in proposing the additional salary.
“I simply bring this amendment in light of my experience having served in a wide variety of roles during my time as a States Member.”
Deputy Moore’s amendment to reform the make-up of the States Assembly would see the total number of elected Members reduced to 47.
The other options tabled, both of which would leave the size of the Chamber unchanged at 49, are:
- Deputy Millar’s proposition to replace nine Deputies with nine Senators.
- An amendment from Deputy Tom Coles that would remove the automatic right of the 12 Parish Constables to sit in the Assembly and replace then with 12 Senators.
Two other amendments have been put forward so far:
- Deputy Sam Mézec has called for an independent boundary commission to be given a role in overseeing future changes.
- The Privileges and Procedures Committee has warned against “rushed” change and wants any changes agreed to be introduced from 2030, rather than from next year’s election.
Members will debate the proposition and amendments at the sitting due to start on Tuesday 18 March.
You can read Deputy Moore’s full amendment here.