The islandwide office of Senator will return ahead of next summer’s election after States Members finalised the in-principle decision taken in March.

It was not completely plain sailing for the pro-Senator lobby, with the decision being made deep into yesterday evening after several hours of debate.

Earlier this year, Treasury Minister Elaine Millar successfully persuaded Members that the islandwide mandate should return – overturning a decision made by the previous Assembly which saw Senators axed.

In a sitting which ran until 20:00 last night, Members approved the law changes brought by the Privileges and Procedures Committee which will see the composition of the Chamber change following next summer’s election by 28 votes to 17.

Speaking towards the end of the debate, Deputy Millar said: “I have absolutely no doubt that this is a vote that very many members of the public want.

“People felt a loss when Senators were removed from this Assembly.

“This is making a change that I do believe the vast majority of the public want and if we reject this now what it does for trust in this Assembly will go through the floor.”

Several politicians opposed the move arguing that removing nine Deputy seats – one from each district – to accommodate the return of Senators reduced voter equity in several constituencies, would complicate the composition of the Chamber by adding a third class of Member and that making changes this close to an election was not best practice.

Deputy Jonathan Renouf described the move as “gerrymandering” to disadvantage the urban districts.

“It is a bad law,” he added. “There is no reason we have to continue with a bad law. It is a flawed, bad law and we should vote against it.”

In closing the debate, PPC Chair Deputy Steve Ahier, who in March voted against the original proposition, said that his committee had brought the proposition to honour the Assembly’s wishes – but asked Members to try not to bring changes to the makeup of the States so close to the end of a term of office.

“It is not acceptable to be making major changes to the island’s electoral system so close to the election,” he said.

Islanders are due to head to the polls on Sunday 7 June 2026.