Playground politics aids no one

It sounds like a school playground but, no, it’s just an average day in the life of Guernsey’s States members.

The current spat surrounding the Development & Planning Authority provides a perfect example of the often childish feuding which is prevalent in politics, though it is by no means an isolated incident.

As a quick recap, DPA vice-president Andrew Taylor submitted his resignation in November, criticising the handling of the Leale’s Yard application, but later withdrew it. Then DPA president Victoria Oliver narrowly won a vote with her members to oust him in favour of Deputy John Dyke, sparking a dispute over how the vote was conducted and whether it was even allowed under States’ rules.

Deputy Oliver was then forced to admit she had ‘got it wrong’ when she told her members Home Affairs had previously set a precedent in removing its number two, when in fact that vice-president had left his role voluntarily.

Former Home Affairs head Mary Lowe then waded in, accusing Deputy Oliver of lying and calling her behaviour ‘wicked and outrageous’.

It’s all very dramatic – and it's not over yet. But is this what we want from our elected representatives?

Disagreements are inevitable. Even the occasional mistake is to be expected. But is it too much to ask that they at least act like grown-ups?

Deputy Taylor last week called it ‘the ugly side of politics’. At least that’s something we can all agree on.