Guernsey Press

Playing the name game in June 2020

AS AN experiment, put aside this newspaper for a minute and jot down the names of the 38 deputies in the current Assembly.

Published

No cheating.

The odd political nerd/journalist/civil servant might get to 25 or more names without pausing. After that, even committed States-watchers are going to slow in search of those elusive final few.

For people who have lives it is much harder. A few headline grabbers that everyone knows, a couple of ever-presents and some deputies from their own electoral district they last saw at their 2016 hustings. To get more than half the Assembly would be good going.

The point is that here we are, almost three years after the general election, and some deputies have still to make a dent on the public consciousness.

And yet, in just over a year, everyone will be expected make a decision and put a cross next to the names of those they think have done a good job.

Based on previous years, 10 or so current deputies will not stand again but thrown into the election mix will be the names of another 60 or more political virgins and returnees.

The unproven but popular theory is that, in such a melee, any profile is better than none. Even those deputies who are hate figures for parts of the populace will get elected on name recognition alone.

But what about the lesser lights, the ones who have never chaired a committee, put forward a controversial policy or amendment, or even got vocal about a parish matter?

These are the people last on the list – or not named at all.

Can they really be confident of success? If they have not made an impact after four years, will they get a second chance?

It is not fair, of course. Profile does not equate to competence. There are quiet States members who do good work in committee, just as there are mouthy States members who are obstacles to progress but are known for having an opinion on everything.

In the parish-based system such ‘empty pail’ politicians might get found out at the ballot box. The hustings and door-knocking would give people an opportunity to see through the bluster.

What will replace that in June 2020?