Backbencher fears lack of government scrutiny

A Jersey backbencher has accused deputies of being too "passive" and is concerned a shifting political tide in the assembly means the government will not be held to account.

The new political term, which began in June, has had a slow start since politicians returned from summer recess with the last three assembly sittings only lasting a few hours while politicians have debated four proposals.

Deputy Max Andrews said the slow pace was due to backbenchers being more ideologically aligned with the government but others disagreed and argued members were working hard.

Chief Minister Lyndon Farnham said the government was "focused on developing a programme that is deliverable and properly funded".

The election saw a weakening of centre left political party Reform Jersey, the emergence of Value Jersey and the success of independent candidates who campaigned for fiscal discipline.

Reform Jersey went from having 10 seats in the last political term to having seven in this assembly and now only hold one ministerial position, down from three.

Value Jersey has six members who endorse their principles in the assembly, with four holding ministerial positions and two on the backbench.

The chief minister recently acknowledged there had been "a nudge to the right with the make-up of the assembly" following the election.

Deputy Andrews said "the new assembly needs time to bed in" but he was concerned an assembly more politically aligned with ministers meant "the government wouldn't be held to account in the way it should be".

"I think there has been a rightward shift in this States Assembly so a lot of the backbench are passive at the moment, they are rather content and will vote with the government," he said.

He also questioned how effectively Reform Jersey and Value Jersey backbenchers could hold to account their members who sit in government.

"It's a question of if you are to scrutinise members of the executive, you don't want any personal relationships to be in the way," he said.

In addition to bringing propositions, backbenchers also ask the government written and oral questions, sit on scrutiny panels and deal with constituency issues.

The six members of Reform Jersey who are not in government have asked the government 16 oral questions and 17 written questions since the beginning of September.

Samantha Gleave, one of the two backbenchers who have endorsed Value Jersey, has asked two oral questions and five written questions in the same period.

Gleave said the current assembly had shown "greater maturity and teamwork" and she "applied the same standards to every minister".

"Members are already examining the Common Strategic Priorities (CSP) and budget alongside scrutiny responsibilities, constituent case work and research into the policy issue they want to take forward," she said.

"It makes sense to focus on those votes before adding further propositions that the whole assembly must find time to read, research and assess.

"Personal relationships must never get in the way of holding ministers to account."

Deputy Lee Carpenter, a Reform Jersey member, said politicians "had been waiting an age for the government to actually bring anything forward".

"I would have hoped for more urgent cost of living measures that could have been debated," she said.

"Instead, we have to wait until November for the CSP debate."

Deputy Hilary Jeune said a quieter agenda "doesn't mean members aren't working".

"Jersey has a long queue of laws that need modernising, and with no new resources and less people to work on these, every new proposition can push important reforms further back," she said.

The chief minister said ministers "understand the desire to see government move quickly, particularly on the cost of living"

"Since taking office in July, ministers have been focused on developing a programme that is deliverable and properly funded, rather than announcing measures in isolation," said Farnham

"That work has resulted in the proposed Common Strategic Policy and Budget 2027, which are now before the States Assembly."

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