One of the first decisions that the new (2025-2029) Assembly made was to reject the proposal to not have a by election triggered until at least 3 Deputy Resignations had occurred (or accumulated). Various Deputies spoke ad nauseum about the need to ‘preserve democracy’. Very few pointed to the potential cost of holding what amounts to a general election under Island Wide Voting for one seat. Shortly afterwards of course, the Le Tocq situation arose and eventually, a by election had to be held with only 17% of the population actually bothering to vote and the winner, (Ross Le Brun), succeeded on only some 900 votes.
More recently, we have had two Deputies (Curgenven and Van Katwyk), claiming that the introduction of GST may force them to leave the Island. Despite this being somewhat childish posturing on their part, it seems as if it might have sparked a flip flop on behalf of one of the senior Deputies who originally opposed the proposal to wait until at least 3 members needed to be replaced. Deputy Yvonne Burford (Vice President of the responsible committee for proposing any such change (SACC)) who opposed the original proposal of waiting until 3 vacancies occurred, is now bringing a requete to do exactly that. Furthermore, another one of the members of SACC (Deputy Tom Rylatt) who also opposed the original proposal – is now one of the signatories (7 being required for a requete). Beyond that, 3 other Deputies who also opposed the approach, are now signatories to support the requete: Deputies Montague, Strachan and Kazentseva-Miller.
Now despite the waste of money, flip flopping by various Deputies and the relative ease by which new Deputy Le Brun was able to ascend to the Assembly as a consequence, this Requete should be supported by the Assembly. It was political nonsense to have opposed it originally, but we don’t want a re-run of a required by election if we ‘lose’ another Deputy (particularly one or more who are frankly superflous).
Members who tried (but failed) to have common sense prevail originally;
Members who opposed (and succeeded) in opposing common sense originally:
