Deputy wants constables replaced by senators

Deputy Tom Coles said if senators were brought back in constables should be removed from the States Assembly

A Jersey politician has called for the 12 constables who sit in the States Assembly to be removed if senators are brought back in.

The 12 constables each represent one of the 12 parishes in the island and hold a dual role as the head of the parish as well as states member.

Deputy Tom Coles has put forward an amendment to Deputy Elaine Millar's proposals to bring back senators who were elected on an island-wide basis.

Politicians voted to remove senators in 2021 as part of moves to simplify the electoral system.

However, Deputy Millar has argued voters want senators back and is calling for states members to approve plans to replace a deputy in each voting district with a senator elected on an island-wide basis.

Deputy Coles said if people wanted to bring back senators then it must be done in the fairest way possible, which would be to remove constables from the assembly.

Coles said: "By removing one deputy from each district and maintaining constables, while reintroducing senators, you just don't get the fairness."

"By removing constables and having senators and deputies sitting side by side, it's the most balanced and fair way you can return senators to the States Assembly.

"When you look at the balance of the populations that constables represent, you have the Constable of St Helier, who represents over 30,000 people, and the constable of St Mary representing less than 2,000 people. Just straight on that number alone you can see the representation they provide isn't fair."

Deputy Tom Coles is a member of Reform Jersey which has come out against the reintroduction of senators but said removing constables from the assembly was "an alternative compromise".

Reform Jersey said Deputy Coles' amendment "would allow voters to elect 12 states members on an island-wide basis, as well as electing members in districts with deputies distributed in proportion to population density".

"Constables would be able to focus on their parish duties or seek democratic election to the states via another office," it said.

The leader of Reform Jersey, Deputy Sam Mézec, has also put forward an amendment calling for any future changes to the make up of the assembly to be overseen by an independent commission.

Reform Jersey said this would ensure "changes are based on evidence rather than political opportunism".