Review of States member numbers moves closer

Deputy Jonathan Le Tocq was on the last committee which was looking at the machinery of government

Deputies have backed a move in principle to set up a special committee to look at the number of States members.

The proposal from Deputies Jonathan Le Tocq and Heidi Soulsby was backed by 21 States members, with 13 voting against it.

A plan to increase the number of politicians in Guernsey's States, which was put forward by Deputy John Gollop, only received three votes.

While a move to reduce the number of States members by five from Deputy Neil Inder was narrowly defeated with 19 politicians backing it and 19 voting against.

The new committee will need to come back to the States before the end of 2026 with its review of how many States members there should be, and the level of representation there should be from the States of Alderney.

During the debate Alderney Representative, Alex Snowdon, said there should be an investigation into letting Alderney residents vote in Guernsey's general elections.

Deputy Yvonne Burford's proposal to look at the island's electoral system failed

Deputies Yvonne Burford and Heidi Soulsby put forward a proposal to create a special committee which would look at the island's electoral system, alongside the number of deputies.

That was narrowly defeated by 17 votes to 18.

Deputies still have to back the final propositions to ensure the new committee is established.

Earlier this term, a group which was set up by Policy and Resources tasked with looking at the island's machinery of government was "paused" after it couldn't come to a consensus.

What will this new committee look like?

When established in 2025 this new States' Investigation & Advisory Committee will be formed of:

• One member of the Policy & Resources Committee who will chair the group

• One member of the States' Assembly & Constitution Committee

• One member of the States of Deliberation who has served at least one term

• Two non-States members from Guernsey