Deputy Montfort Tadier lodged a proposition, which, if approved, would have allowed non-British nationals to stand for election to the States. Currently, those standing for positions as Deputies and Senators must either have British citizenship or dual nationality. The St Brelade Deputy lodged similar proposals last year which were defeated by 31 votes to eight.
Until recently, Constables were not subject to the requirements because of a loophole in the law which was closed by Members earlier this year.
In 2014, Polish-born Konrad Kruszynski, who had British nationality, ran for a Senatorial seat. He came second to last in the polls with 2,059 votes. Deputy Tadier said: ‘It seems inappropriate that we can have someone from the Outer Hebrides come, live here for two years and stand for election but someone from Madeira who has lived here for 40 years can’t.’
He added that a British citizenship test could be costly – excluding some from being able to sit the test – and the questions asked often irrelevant as to whether people had the Island’s best interests at heart.
‘A lot of things one is required to know [for the citizenship test] is of questionable relevance,’ he said. ‘What principles you have in your heart is what will be asked by the electorate.’
Deputy Peter McLinton said it was ‘appalling’ that some Islanders were barred from standing for election.
He said: ‘This Assembly isn’t representative of the electorate by definition. This proposition will help the Assembly be representative and then let the electorate decide. We are not above the electorate.’
Senator Sir Philip Bailhache said that while it was right the non-British citizens should be eligible to vote, the passing of laws in the Chamber required a ‘commitment’ that could only be matched by pledging yourself to the Crown.
He said: ‘Where does your loyalty ultimately lie? Is it to the head of another country? If you want to become a Member of this Assembly, in my view you should be prepared to say you have made a final commitment to this place and you are prepared to become a citizen of this country.’
The proposition was rejected by 29 votes to 17.
Meanwhile, two members of the Police Complaints Authority were reappointed to the board for a further three years. The appointments of Gail McCourt and Duncan Baxter were unanimously approved. And Senator Philip Ozouf was appointed to the Law Revision Board, which oversees the preparation and publication of revised editions of Jersey legislation.
