Politicians to debate the re-instatement of senators

Jersey's politicians will be debating whether or not senators should be reintroduced into the States Assembly.

It is the third attempt to reinstate senators since their abolition in 2022.

Treasury Minister Elaine Millar suggests nine senators replace the seats of nine deputies, reintroducing a three-tier system.

This means there will be an island-wide mandate again, alongside more specific regions for constables and deputies within the parishes.

First Amendment

However, Reform Jersey's Deputy Tom Coles wants a simplified States Assembly maintained.

He told Channel 103 that senators were initially removed to make Jersey politics easier to understand.

"[It's] wasting States Members and Assembly time [by] debating something for the third time which has been defeated twice before.

"I think it's a little bit ridiculous that we're wasting our time by doing this, but if we are going to do it, we need to do it in the most fair and democratic way."

Deputy Coles wants to see parish constables removed from the States Assembly and 12 senators replace them.

Reform Jersey

However, Former Chief Minister, Deputy Kristina Moore has also put her spin on Deputy Cole's amendment.

If his changes are agreed upon by the States, with senators taking the seats of constables, she only wants to see only eight senators replacing the 12 vacant spaces.

This would reduce the number of States Members to 45.

Second Amendment

Housing Minister and Reform Jersey Leader Sam Mezec supports his party colleague and believes that 'deforming' the voting system to what was created in the 1940s is a 'waste of State Members' time.'

He added a clause to the proposal introducing a Boundary Commission to prevent politicians from changing the political system without being fully informed.

Deputy Mezec claims it would stop 'partisan gerrymandering' and 'ensure changes are made based on evidence rather than political opportunism'.

READ: Could Constables be replaced in the next election?

Third Amendment

If there is support for reinstating senators. the Privileges and Procedures Committee  - which organises States business and elections - does not want to see that happen until the 2030 general election.

PPC says that while swapping one deputy in each constituency for a senator appears straightforward, the 'consequential legislative impacts' are more complicated. 

"This is permanent and underpins the island's democratic system.

"It cannot and should not be rushed."

Fourth Amendment

Deputy Kristina Moore has lodged an amendment to the main proposition, this time, to remove one deputy from each of the nine constituencies and replace them with just seven senators.

This would mean the States Assembly is made up of 47 members.

She believes the money saved from the empty deputy seats should be given equally to the senators.

Deputy Kristina Moore

Deputy Moore would also like to see the seven senators forming the future Council of Ministers.

She says in her report that elected senators would hold the 'credibility of a greater mandate'.

"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.

"Perhaps they could set out a clear Programme for Government at the beginning of their term as the coalition does in the Republic of Ireland, for example."

Deputy Moore asks that the Privileges and Procedures Committee introduce the changes in 2026's General Election, rather than 2030.

Fifth Amendment

And finally, Reform's Deputy Montfort Tadier wants any election for senators held ahead of the General Election.

He wants the politicians elected on an island-wide basis to sit alongside the offices of constable and deputy in the States Assembly, agreeing that one senator should replace one deputy from each recognised parish.

Deputy Tadier also wants senators reintroduced before the 2026 General Election.