Deputy Russell Labey has called for candidates for Chief Minister who receive the backing of 18 or more fellow States Members to be put forward for a public vote by May 2018. His proposition is due to be debated later this month.
In official comments responding to the proposals, the Privileges and Procedures Committee says: ‘If this proposition were adopted, and given the need for Privy Council approval for changes to primary legislation, PPC would have no more than five months to prepare the Law and Standing Order changes necessary to enact this change and to shepherd them through the Assembly.
‘There would be no time for adequate consideration of the issues, which others may identify as requiring thought.
‘PPC has serious misgivings about making such significant constitutional changes so close to an election and without thorough consideration (including by the public) of all the implications of what is proposed.’
Meanwhile, PPC has also commented on further proposals by the Deputy to elect ministers via a secret ballot.
Currently, the position of Chief Minister is chosen by Members in an open States vote. Ministers are then selected the following week, with the newly-elected Chief Minister putting forward his chosen candidates, with any other Members also able to run. If two or more politicians run for the same ministerial role, they will each make an address to the States Assembly before Members vote on their preferred candidate. However, a proposition lodged by Deputy Labey has called on the ministerial votes – as well as the decisions on Scrutiny Panel chairmen – to be done via a secret ballot.
PPC have said that a sub-committee was set up last year to look at the issue and found that ‘members were of the view that, while there were benefits and negatives to having an open vote, transparency should take precedence’.
The propositions are due to be debated on Tuesday 26 September.
