Alderney States 'should explore way of ousting politicians'

Alex Snowdon said a recall mechanism would give the public confidence when they elected States members

Alderney's States should look at a way of removing politicians from office, according to a States member.

Alex Snowdon has urged the island's government to look at a recall mechanism, similar to one in the UK.

He said it would give the public more confidence when they elected States members.

He has lodged a question for Wednesday's States meeting to see whether the chair of the Policy and Finance Committee supports the idea.

Mr Snowdon said the idea should be looked at because some of the current members of the assembly were elected without a contested election.

He said: "The present States needs a mandate and doesn't have it as the whole States, and maybe that is where we see concern from the voters.

"If we had some kind of recall mechanism, it would hopefully give a mandate to the people who are elected."

In the UK, the recall of a Member of Parliament can be triggered if 10% of constituents sign a petition after an MP is found guilty of "serious wrongdoing" by Parliament.

In 2019, the MP for Peterborough Fiona Onasanya became the first MP to be removed by a recall petition.