When your politics gets stuck

An apt summary of Guernsey politics? A quote from the president of a senior States committee?

That would seem to be entirely appropriate, but these words come from the Chief Clerk of the States of Alderney in a press release which is now courting controversy among politicians in the island.

The statement comes, oddly enough, as part of a press release launching a new campaign to encourage islanders to vote and with the hope of ‘enthusing a new crop of candidates to stand for office’.

The smaller the jurisdiction, arguably the more difficult the politics. Put your head above the parapet in a small community and there’s a better-than-evens chance of having it chopped off at some point.

But on closer inspection, Alderney seems to be suffering a similar malaise to Guernsey politics. It’s not that politicians are making unpopular and controversial decisions. More like they are not making any meaningful decisions at all.

There has been remarkably little of note in the Alderney billets for months, as has been the case in Guernsey for the past four years, the tax review apart.

If there’s anything worse than governing without an agenda, it’s governing without money. And when your politics is stuck in the mud, no wonder it’s unattractive.