Respect is the glue that binds States

The pressure of next week’s education debate and Economic Development’s Green Paper is exposing cracks in the Assembly’s unity of purpose that are becoming impossible to paper over.

As a faction of deputies bicker and snipe via email and social media the debate has got too personal, too emotional.

It is the opposite of what is required. The more important the issues the more vital it is that politicians take the heat out of the arguments and apply ice to their thoughts by focusing on the issues and not the personalities.

Islanders need to respect their government. They may not agree with every States decision but if both sides have engaged in honest, open and courteous debate and one has emerged victorious then it can be accepted.

What cannot be accepted is the Trumpian politics of division and playground boasts akin to ‘my button is bigger than yours’.

Duty is an underused concept in the modern age but one in need of a revival. Deputies have a duty to put aside their petty politics and historical grievances and concentrate on issues and solutions.

That is the contract each has made with the elector. To do their duty for their island and bury their egos.

Failure to hold to that obligation tarnishes the island’s democratic values.

There is still time for this Assembly to resurrect its reputation. An intelligent debate next week which provokes thoughtful ideas, not petulant emotions, will be a start.

After that this group of deputies can set about forging a legacy of which they can be proud. Developing and putting in place imaginative policies that will improve the lives of all islanders.

To do that they will have to rub along. Bite their tongues, find common ground and stick to the task in committee rooms.

The current political system is far from perfect. But that excuse is just a fig leaf to hide the embarrassment of deputies. There is nothing in the consensus system that prevents civil discourse, compromise and respect for the arguments of others.