The previous States agreed that a by-election would be held only if there was a need to fill at least three deputies’ seats, but the proposal failed to secure the two-thirds majority for it to be adopted automatically under the 1948 Reform Law. Nine States members, led by Peter Roffey, used a section of the law to petition the Bailiff to lay the vote before the Assembly again, which he will do when it meets on Wednesday.
On the second vote, the change to require three vacancies for a by-election needs only a simple majority to become law, and if that fails there will continue to be a by-election each time a single seat becomes vacant.
‘Where would you find another parliament which doesn’t fill vacancies through timely by-elections? I can’t think of any,’ said former Deputy Roffey, who will not be in the Assembly for the final stage of the debate, having retired at the general election.
‘Also, if the States votes for the three vacancies threshold, it is effectively saying it can operate just fine with 36 deputies – and what then is the justification for 38 deputies?’
The issue may spark more debate than any other at the first regular States meeting of the new political term which starts tomorrow and is expected to be over within one day.
The law change will be laid before the Assembly by Deputy Sarah Hansmann Rouxel, the new president of the States Assembly & Constitution Committee, which inherited the proposal from its predecessor.
The new Sacc is understood to be sceptical of the change and is free to recommend rejecting the law change and keeping the current arrangement for a by-election when a deputies’ seat becomes vacant.
Elsewhere on an inevitably light agenda, the States will vote on a draft amendment to the Criminal Justice Law submitted by the previous Home Affairs Committee, which would add new offences relating to the sale of knives or other items with a blade or point to children and how such weapons are advertised.
If approved, the amendment to the law would come into force on 1 September to allow affected businesses time to put any necessary arrangements in place.
Before those items are considered on Wednesday, the Assembly meets today to debate the States’ 2024 Accounts, which will be presented by the new Policy & Resources Committee.
General revenue results, including income received from taxes, duties and charges and the cost of providing public services, showed a deficit of £9m.
The deficit for last year grew to £44m. if Social Security funds and spending on various one-off projects were included.
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