Constable defends Jersey States roll call debate as housekeeping

Constable Karen Shenton-Stone said a roll call debate would just be 'housekeeping'

A Jersey politician has defended as "housekeeping" an upcoming debate on the order in which politicians' names should be read out during the States Assembly roll call.

The debate is scheduled for a meeting on 16 January.

Charity Caritas Jersey said "internal wranglings" were detracting from "real issues" like a living wage.

But Constable Karen Shenton-Stone, Chair of Privileges and Procedures, said the item was just "procedure".

The planned role call change would have constables' names called out first according to length of service, followed by deputies.

Constable Shenton-Stone said the debate in question was "procedure" and a "tiny little housekeeping item" that "wouldn't take up a lot of people's time".

"I don't really see how they can link up the roll call which is actually just part of housekeeping, with the minimum wage," she added.

"There are far more pressing matters at hand, obviously, and most of us are working on far more pressing matters."

She added: "I am absolutely in favour of the minimum wage... how are you supposed to live over here? It's a very expensive island."

'Internal wranglings'

Mrs Shenton-Stone said there were just "eight items of business" other than the roll call, adding: "The ministerial government is not bringing forward anything."

It followed criticism from charity Caritas Jersey that the Council of Ministers had "no focus on the real issues", including supporting a living wage.

Dubbing the roll call debate - and an upcoming vote of no confidence - "internal wranglings", CEO Patrick Lynch said he had hoped to see a "positive change" and a "real focus" from politicians on the real issues.

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