A full debate on cost control good for States

There is talk and more than a hint of action about a protest against the new P&R policy to approve or reject all States appointments of senior officer grade one or above, essentially almost anyone in the public sector who earns close to or above £1,000 a week.

Long-serving deputy Peter Roffey has either positioned himself, or simply found himself, in the centre of a brewing storm.

He has described the job approval policy as ‘an absolute power grab from the centre’ and also made it very clear that he will oppose any further moves from that ‘centre’ to boost its own powers in considering moves towards executive government, another ‘grab’ which some feel has been given legs by the general public’s support for the actions of the Civil Contingencies Authority, and some enthusiastic talk about cabinet-style government from Chief Minister Peter Ferbrache.

His concerns, voiced in these pages, led to Deputy Mark Helyar’s controversial and high-profile ‘Jurassic Park’ riposte of last week. He strongly demands the right to question and challenge the creation of public sector jobs – what he called ‘the island’s largest and fastest-rising cost’.

Whether a debate on this issue moves to the States Chamber, through requete or some other means, it is likely to be one of the most critical faced by the States across this term of government.

It should certainly give a strong indication as to which side of the divide the Assembly sits and where its priorities will lie for the next four years.

Deputy Roffey says he won’t simply go ‘over the top’ to be gunned down by his colleagues.

But pushing for a debate which will inevitably turn into one of central control versus committee power, and austerity against what is left of #BuildBackBetter, may be a worthy gamble to better guide the future of this government, and quickly.