No confidence vote in P&R scheduled for 22 November

That means P&R members can expect to lead next week’s debate on the draft 2024 Budget without knowing whether they will still be on the senior committee when most Budget changes commence on 1 January.

‘The committee welcomes confirmation of the date for the motion of no confidence so that there is clarity for all members. It means in the interim the States can focus on the 2024 Budget debate,’ said P&R president Peter Ferbrache.

The leader of the motion, Charles Parkinson, was relaxed about waiting for it to be debated.

‘The Bailiff has suggested 22 November. If the Bailiff wants to schedule it for then, that’s fine by me,’ said Deputy Parkinson.

P&R’s draft Budget faces 15 amendments. Deputy Parkinson predicted it would be another difficult debate for the beleaguered senior committee, just three weeks after its flagship tax and spending plan was defeated by the States for the second time this year.

‘Interestingly, the Budget debate could change the dynamics of the motion of no confidence debate.

‘If the Budget debate is very messy, and I think it could be, it will probably increase the feeling that this States is now rudderless and that P&R is lacking any real grip on the Assembly.

‘I think the outcome of the motion of no confidence debate is going to be very close, but I think we might just have the numbers to get it through.’

Deputy Peter Roffey, who said he would ‘probably be a candidate’ if the P&R presidency became vacant, said the timing of debate was unavoidably awkward.

‘Normally, I think a motion of no confidence should be debated as soon as possible to clear the air. But there would be practical problems debating the motion before the Budget,’ said Deputy Roffey.

‘If the motion succeeded, P&R would have been voted out on the eve of the Budget debate.

‘In those circumstances, it would be impractical to debate the Budget until a new committee had been elected.

‘But would there be sufficient time left at next week’s meeting to debate both the Budget and Social Security uprating reports, which contain measures which need to be implemented at the start of next year? And could a new P&R present and defend a Budget they had no part putting together?

‘I think the problems are equally intractable either way.’

Deputy Roffey encouraged more candidates to come forward in case the motion of no confidence is approved.

‘States members deserve the widest possible choice.

‘I would prefer to see half a dozen candidates than the field being restricted by any backroom deals, which is something I simply don’t indulge in,’ he said.