States votes to limit speeches to 15 minutes

Some of those who spoke against the limit said enforcing the rule would put an unfair burden on the presiding officer

Guernsey States members have voted to limit the length of speeches in their meetings to less than 15 minutes.

Deputy Steve Falla put forward the motion to encourage deputies to have "greater discipline".

The proposal said limit would not apply to opening or closing speeches and on specialist topics deputies can ask the presiding officer for permission to speak for longer.

The new rule will not be official until deputies approve it in a vote on a wider review to the rules of procedure.

Avoid irrelevant content

The rule puts the States of Guernsey in line with the Government of Jersey.

Deputies speaking for the change mentioned many parliaments worldwide restrict politicians from speaking for more than 10 minutes.

But Deputy Yvonne Burford said "slow and careful decision-making" was worth the time and instead deputies should avoid irrelevant content, saying "limits become targets".

It was also argued that asking the presiding officer to make decisions on whether deputies can speak for longer added an "unfair burden" on them and "makes the role political".

States members also agreed to change how they submit amendments, so sub-clauses cannot be voted on separately and amendments must be focussed on only one topic.