A very very brief post to put something in context.
Deputy Andrew Green has lodged an amendment to the ridiculous reform law, in an attempt to make it fairer.
It can be read here -
http://www.statesassembly.gov.je/AssemblyPropositions/2013/P.064-2013Amd(2).pdf
It is worth reading the report that goes with it to understand the context in which it is made.
Essentially the purpose is to rectify some of the problems with Option B as a system to make is less unfair.
What is at the very heart of Option B is this unfairness that those that created and campaigned for Option B had no interest in fixing nor even properly addressing in the referendum campaign. Such a system is astounding in the 21st Century that politicians, in what purports to be a democracy, can accept without protest.
Deputy Green's amendment creates a new electoral district in St Helier, so there will be 3 instead of the proposed 2. This new district will be the same as the others having 5 Deputies, taking the total number to 47 (and alleviating some of the worries with regards to having enough members to do the work).
I have very quickly worked out the population figures to see how this system would fit in with the Venice Commission's criteria.
Here is what I have found -
District
|
Parishes
|
Eligible voters
|
Number of States Members
|
Voters per D + C
|
% deviation from average
|
1
|
St Helier No. 1
|
8,953
|
5.3
|
1,689
|
1.02
|
2
|
St Helier No. 2
|
8,953
|
5.3
|
1,689
|
1.02
|
3
|
St Clement, Grouville, St Martin
|
14,010
|
8
|
1,751
|
4.72
|
4
|
St Saviour, Trinity
|
12,960
|
7
|
1,851
|
10.71
|
5
|
St Lawrence, St John, St Mary, St Ouen
|
11,100
|
9
|
1,233
|
-26.26
|
6
|
St Brelade, St Peter
|
12,600
|
7
|
1,800
|
7.66
|
7
|
St Helier No. 3
|
8.953
|
5.3
|
1,689
|
1.02
|
Total/ average
|
77,529
|
47
|
1,672
|
Compare this to what the reform is set to be if this amendment does not go through -
District
|
Parishes
|
Eligible voters
|
Number of States Members
|
Voters per D + C
|
% deviation from average
|
1
|
St Helier No. 1
|
13,960
|
5.5
|
2,538
|
32.19
|
2
|
St Helier No. 2
|
12,900
|
5.5
|
2,345
|
22.14
|
3
|
St Clement, Grouville, St Martin
|
14,010
|
8
|
1,751
|
-8.8
|
4
|
St Saviour, Trinity
|
12,960
|
7
|
1,851
|
-3.56
|
5
|
St Lawrence, St John, St Mary, St Ouen
|
11,100
|
9
|
1,233
|
-35.78
|
6
|
St Brelade, St Peter
|
12,600
|
7
|
1,800
|
-6.25
|
Total/ average
|
77,530
|
1,920
|
It is very clear already that Deputy Green's amendment is substantially fairer than the current proposal. It still has one constituency that is out of line with the criterion (which says that no constituency should deviate more than 15%.
Here is how it looks as a bar graph -
Little more needs to be said.
Any politician that votes against this amendment cannot claim to be a democrat.
More commentary to come soon...
P.S. Apologies for the brevity of this post. I am in a hotel with limited wifi access!
Sam,
ReplyDeleteRespectfully, this is the "lethal injection" argument all over again. Do you make execution less cruel, or do you stick to your guns and say that capital punishment is wrong?
You are right that if SPB is going to foist Option B on Jersey that the Green amendment makes an enormous amount of sense, and only leaves the one problem area.
But if you believe that there is good and proper cause for having one class of member and removing the Constables from the States in the cause of democracy, anything that offers a compromise which keeps them there is not an answer - and it is perfectly acceptable to reject the amendment to prevent Option B from being implemented.
The question then is - which situation places us in the best position to then get our further reforms?
DeleteIf Green's amendment is lost, there is nothing to say that the States might still vote Option B through, and then where are we? Stuck with a pretty awful electoral system, town totally under-represented and our only option being to take things to the Privy Council. (Remember, if the PC interfere with our system, that will be the green light for Bailhache to kick up the independence fuss again).
Or, we take Green's amendment, admit that the system is far from perfect, but at least St Helier gets fair representation under it, and from there hope that it can be used as a base for extending democratic politics and winning more arguments with the greater voting power.
It's tough, but I'm starting to think the latter could be the best chance.
Hi Sam,
ReplyDeleteIs it not a fact that Daniel Wimberley’s original proposition to establish an Independent Electoral Commission was hijacked by Senator Bailhache with the aid of States Members?
To support anything that is a variation to Deputy Wimberley’s proposition only legitimises the hi-jacking.
Deputy Green who to his credit opposed Senator Bailhache’s proposals is attempting to arrange the deck chairs on the Titanic. I wish him well but would not put any money on him succeeding.
Michael Nicolle, totaly agree with Bob & James we should not comprimise with the great Dictator, all supporters of option A belived in that option, fight on and show the public and the world how undemocratic option B is.
ReplyDeleteSam.You are a young man dont surrender your principals at the first hurdile!!! Fight on !!! I really believd better of you if you compremise you are finished before you even start your career in Jersey Politics comprmise = weakness best wishes !!!
I'm not surrendering any principles, this is a question of tactics.
DeleteIt doesn't matter what my principles on Option B are, the majority of States Members are probably going to vote for Option B, and then Jersey enters the dark ages.
Deputy Green's amendment is a way to make a small amount of progress and then place us in a better position to later achieve more.
Principles are totally useless if you don't have a way of implementing them.
Sorry but I have to dissagree good luck in your endevours
DeleteSorry Sam I will have to dissagree with you principles are what seperate us from the majority of existing States Members, to surrender, to give up at the first hurdle is not wise, fight on till you win dont betray your supporters, as others have said dont legitemise option B supporters!!!
DeleteI do believe you will lose much of the support you have built up over the past year this will be to the advantage of those in the States who oppose every thing you stand for, another oppostion member silenced.
How am I giving up on my principles? My principles are to make Jersey as democratic as possible.
DeleteTherefore I am against Option B, but my team lost the referendum and the States are now going to vote for Option B. If I can argue to make Option B better, surely I am still doing our island some good?
It's either nothing, or something slightly less unacceptable. How can it possibly be bad to argue for the least worst option?
Tolaly agree Deputy Green has principals unlike most states members
ReplyDeleteIf option B wins and we are taken even further back into the dark ages will you concentrate your energies on organizing a protest march?
ReplyDeleteAs I am an OAP that is most unlikely, however I have been on many protest marches in Jersey and once took a leading part in a 1 week strike within the Manual Worker Branch. I have done my fighting what are your credentials "Dark Ages" you have lost the fight before the battle begins if you dont fight on principes, you are as bad as the vast majority of States Members who have NO PRINCIPES end of
DeleteKind Regards
We are fighting on principles. That principle is that we need Jersey to be as democratic as possible.
DeleteThere is no point in carrying on arguing for Option A, because Option A isn't on the table any more. Of the options on the table, Deputy Green's amendment is by far the best one.
On organising a protest march, no need! We'll be petitioning the Privy Council to block the Option B legislation!
Sam dont get sucked in by the Establishment, they will make you feel important, they will flater you, they will talk with you, and once you are embroiled they will spit you out, and those that have supported you will turn away in disgust.
ReplyDeleteThe Establishment have no sway over me whatsoever, you can be damn sure of that. That's why their cronies do their best to discredit me and demoralise me.
DeleteWell Sam you threw out your principles!!! what for? you should have fought on against option B!!! As I said previously, without sticking to your principles you are no better than the establishment sorry but you are as bad as them principles do count and no matter how many excuses you make you did yourself no good whatsoever by compromising
ReplyDeleteMichael Nicolle
Sorry, but you are just wrong.
DeleteI opposed Option B from the very start of this process.
I arranged a meeting of States Members in which we formed a coalition against Option B. I spent the evenings before the debate emailing States Members explaining why they should vote against Option B. On the day of the vote I was in the Royal Square to catch States Members as they walked out of the States Chamber to lobby them to vote against Option B.
There is no-one outside of the States that has done more than me to make sure that Option B does not become law.
I never sacrificed my principles at any stage. All I did was prepare a contingency plan in case of failure. Your comment to me is incredibly unfair.
I never compromised on anything at all. I don't need to make excuses because you are talking rubbish, with respect.