Electoral Reform - the Jersey Way

As we all know the States of Jersey has been discussing "electoral reform" for years.
Recently the concept of "super constituencies" has become a central theme and several variations on this theme will be voted on by the States soon.

The States might have the good sense to reject the whole thing - but the chances are that the "establishment" will vote something in to confirm their stranglehold on power.

The public have been more or less excluded from meaningful participation in this reforming process in recent months.

The propositions will be voted on very soon by the States so the propositions  have been referred to a Scrutiny Panel to review and make comment.
It is all very rushed and inadequate.

As part of that rushed  Review process, the Scrutiny Panel has decided to invite the general public to comment - but strictly in accordance within the terms of the propositions. The discussion is therefore very strictly curtailed and controlled.

This video (below) was recorded at the Town Hall hearing from 7pm on 17 May 2017 and shows Deputy Le Fondre introducing the Panel to the "electorate".
It runs for about 7 minutes and is very boring.
The sound is not very good either in spite of this being Deaf Awareness Week.
About a dozen members of the public turned up - besides a smaller number of States Members, who as so often, huddled together in a cosy group in the audience and said nothing .

The Scrutiny Panel does not want to receive views on wider issues like the removal of the Constables from the States or increasing the number of Senators back to 12 or complaints about the generally low standards of Ministerial government.
Such matters are not included in the specific propositions to be voted on.

Thus, this is not really a "public consultation" exercise at all - unless you have a precise view to express on a specific proposal - but really is just an opportunity for Scrutiny to endorse the propositions in whole or in part.
It's just part of a pretended democratic process.

This  Scrutiny Panel led by  Deputy Le Fondre clearly has no intention to report to the States that the public rejects the whole of the  sham propositions - as was clearly the mood at this hearing - but will inevitably cobble together a pleasant few pages of PR prose for the States and send a note to the PPC Committee expressing some polite individual misgivings where appropriate.

The public is also invited to send written comments to the Scrutiny Panel but these too must be kept within the strict terms of reference.
The initial invitation for members of the public  to address the Panel personally in the usual Committee room of the States Building seems to have been retracted - except for the select few.

There will be a couple more of such public hearings as this - details on scrutiny.gov.je - but my advice is  not to attend unless you can express support for the propositions. Wider dissent is clearly not being encouraged here...

I have videos of public responses at St Helier but most of the evening's talking was from Deputy Le Fondre desperately trying to keep the small flock confined to the official agenda. If enough people express an interest I will post some examples but personally I feel that I have more important things to do...

Gorst not resigning...world exclusive from the steps of the Jersey States'..

Following somebody's defeat yesterday in the Jersey States we can reveal that it wasn't the government that got it wrong, that the programme of "Reform" carries on (although nobody has a clue what that means) and Chief Minister Gorst will not be resigning.

In fact this was all yet another demonstration of Jersey democracy in action of which we can all be proud although Assistant CM Senator Bailhache has said that the whole Referendum was a waste of time...

Today's video interview here (above) runs for about 5 minutes.

PS The States voted last October that 28 September should be officially celebrated as Jersey Reform Day - nothing has been done about it so far this year but perhaps Senator Gorst will reveal his government's revised "reform" plans on that historic day - or as part of the "Mace" celebrations with Prince Andrew...or Edward...or some other important person.

Jersey's Electoral Reform Drama - running longer than the Mousetrap - but a bigger sell-out ....CONTINUED

A reminder from twelve months ago. Electoral Commissioners Colin Storm and Constable Gallichan explaining the mysteries of  Option B on the "road show".....

...and below
Jersey States' very own living dramatist is interviewed here - one act only of about 12 minutes - and reveals his starring role in next Tuesday's all glitter performance as Chair of PPC presenting the will of the people to their elected representatives.

In fact Constable Crowcroft would probably prefer having a starring role in Hamlet or to be the body on the floor in the Agatha Christie melodrama but history has cast him in this rather conflicted part. Whatever happens he is unlikely to win any awards.

We watched him today at the PPC dress rehearsal that was in part open to the public.
His co participants being Senators Bailhache and Ferguson, Constable Norman and Deputies Martin and Tadier together with a Deputy Greffier and a few other bit-part players.

It was all a bit lack lustre amd hardly raised expectations of anything very startling happening in the States' Assembly when the full 51 elected players deliver their well rehearsed speeches and strut their finest stuff....

If the temperature outside rises the gents jackets may well come off but we don't anticipate that the discussions will stimulate anything new or that has not already been considered many times before over the years...

The gremlins are still preventing correction of typos  and the cursor is inoperative - anybody with a suggested cure please make contact please...IT is not the strong point around these parts.

Constable Crowcroft of St Helier - Chair of PPC - interviewed today.

Jersey's battle of the little big yawn - aka Option "C"s last stand...

Ever since 24 April 2013 the PRT - Post Referendum Trauma - has been evident among some States Members but there is remarkably little enthusiasm for the resulting "Option B victory" anywhere in the Island.

Even Senator Bailhache seems to have found more Godly pursuits to occupy his attention.

Whether the "Option A Team" will regroup to continue the campaign has yet to be seen but in the meantime Senator Lyndon Farnham is continuing to resist the "B" outcome.
Here with fellow supporter Deputy John Le Fondre he explains current thinking.

"Option B" is not yet a done deal....

The video below runs about 16.5 minutes.

Sir Philip's Senatorial election platform - so who can be surprised at the Referendum options...?

This was Sir Philip Bailhache's primary election plaform speech for the Senatorial election.

So hardly any surprise that he should have pursued his aims through the States, the Electoral Commission and now through the Referendum.

Presumably he will now head up an "Option B" team to  ensure that the public votes to keep the Constables in the States.

This blog is as always open to anybody with a view to present on this or other matters of public interest.

A gallant Guernsey gander with Gollop...

Deputy John Gollop
Part 1
Explains the Guernsey system of government and much about Jersey's too...

Part 2

In this two part interview John Gollop expresses a great deal of useful knowledge about the relevant systems of government in the Channel Islands. It is essential viewing for anyone who  who claims an interest in the subject or in reform.
His interest in disability matters is also touched upon (as well as his status in the States as "Disability Champion") and a further interview will follow in a few days dealing with the Guernsey Disability Alliance and related matters.
There is much to be learned in Guernsey and from Deputy Gollop.

Talking to some Guernsey residents by chance later we heard more about the regular "parish surgeries" that now take place and how these are involving the general public in a very constructive way.
One couple said that they previously had no interest in political matters but by chance went along to a surgery to raise concerns about the new "roadsise refuse collection scheme." They we drawn into public discussions about a wide range of matters with the two Parish Constables and the seven elected States members present. It was an entertaining and enjoyable experience and they will be going again!

The point being that the Parishes do have a role in Guernsey which can be developed further and should be noted in the Jersey context. There will be life in the Jersey Parishes if the Constables cease to sit in the States.

Electoral States Reform - A Senator, a Constable and a Deputy...

Don't know what is going wrong today but my text has gone AWOL but this is a two part video discussion with three States Mambers - a Senator (Sara Ferguson with an all Island vote of 8,576), a Constable (Steve Pallett of St Brelade 1,999) and a Deputy (Roy Le Herissier, St Saviour 764). If I can resolve some of the posting difficulties I will do so later but in the meantime I thank the participants for their time and Neil for his camera/ recording and we shall see what happens....

Constable Len Norman - St Clement, - in favour of some Jersey Reform

Following the interview with Constable Steve Pallett of St Brelade we now offer this posting from St Clement.

What is immediately apparent is that although Constable Pallett's previous political career had been supportive of reform it is Constable Norman - traditionally a conservative - who now promotes more change.

So Len Norman's views, as the only one of the twelve existing Constables, who thinks that they should not also be returned "ex officcio" to the States are especially important.

Life is full of such surprizes.

We took the opportunity to discuss other Parish matters too with Constable Norman and he is unique as the only current Member of the States who has served as Deputy, Senator and Constable.

St Clement as the smallest of the twelve Parishes also has a population of 10,000 - second only to St Helier - but has very little commercial activity. The Parish is predominently given over to housing.
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If any other Constables would like to be interviewd for this series - please get in touch.

CM GORST - waving or drowning?

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