A St Helier backbench politician says the efforts of fellow deputies have not been 'good enough' this year as Jersey is on course for a record low number of proposals lodged for debate in the island's parliament.

Deputies have put forward around 70 propositions so far in 2024, compared to 107 in 2023.

Even fewer politicians are trying to get their ideas through the States Assembly, compared to almost two decades ago when the number reached 285.

Deputy Max Andrews, of St Helier North, says more proposals should be submitted for debate.

"We need to start getting our act together, as a collective, because there's 49 of us."

Asked why the number is low, the deputy said: 

"There's been quite a lot of bickering going on in the background. There's a lot of things going on behind the scenes, and I think a few people are put off lodging propositions.

"If you said, 'Look, this is what I'm going to be proposing' and people have elected you on that basis, and (then) you don't propose anything, people are going to be questioning you at the next election saying 'Well, what did you actually do?'"

The St Helier deputy continues to say the culture in the States Assembly can be 'very annoying' and 'frustrating'.

"Since the turn of the vote of no confidence (in January) things have gradually got worse.

If you've brought forward your idea it's almost as if  (the response from ministers is) 'Well, we're going to be doing this anyway'.

"You have conversations and you ask questions and they say to you initially 'Well, no we're not doing that' and then you bring forward your proposal and then they change their mind and say 'No we are actually going to be doing this'."

Other deputies have not taken well to Deputy Andrews' comments.

Speaking on X (formerly twitter) Vice-Chair of Privileges and Procedures, Deputy Carina Alves said she is 'really disappointed' by the claims:

🫤 Really disappointed to see reports that a fellow Deputy has called for colleagues to "get off their backsides and start working" in response to the low number of propositions lodged.

<continued in screenshots below> pic.twitter.com/RiGIVMwUCO

— Deputy Carina Alves - Reform Jersey (@DeputyAlves) October 2, 2024

She says the role of a parliamentarian is not 'simply to lodge propositions' and argues that it involves meeting with other States members, constituents and government officials.

Education Minister Deputy Rob Ward also responded, saying it is 'wrong' to question the work ethic of States colleagues.

Agreed. The narrative from one member questioning the work ethic of colleagues across the assembly is wrong. https://t.co/Wms0BhQ6nG

— 🌈Deputy Rob Ward (Reform Jersey)🌈 (@deputyrobward) October 2, 2024

Deputy Max Andrews has lodged 11 propositions this year (2024), Four have been withdrawn, three are yet to be debated and States Members have rejected the other three.

He says that is a life in politics.

"Sometimes you'll be successful, on other occasions I haven't been successful, but at least I'm trying to do my job. I'm doing what I'm being paid to do.

"I don't think there's enough of that, I've got the mentality of 'it's always worth having the debate' and even if you lose, at least you know you've tried. But perhaps my mentality is a bit different to some of my colleagues."

"Even if it doesn't go through, at least you're trying."

- Max Andrews

In 2023, the St Helier deputy lodged 14 propositions, with five succeeding through the Assembly, but four were withdrawn and five were rejected.