Tender's chances were slim

‘Have Jersey and Guernsey EVER successfully joined forces?’

Both governments have made great play of how successful, valid and in-depth the ferry tender process has been, but ultimately, when push has come to shove, it has been hopelessly exposed.

Just like what happened in 1998, just as we predicted a week ago, a scenario of split islands morphs into a battle of wills or egos. In 1998 Guernsey felt emasculated by having to go along with a decision that Jersey had confirmed just 24 hours earlier.

This time, it had its decision and was confident in it, while Jersey appeared to be prevaricating. And so Guernsey pulled rank, said it was confident, and confident enough to ‘keep the door open’ for Jersey to come in, or pull out and go their own way. A move which feels both gutsy, and a little risky.

Jersey bemoaned a ‘disappointing and unseemly’ end to the process.

But what did they expect? If the islands were miles apart, as believed, was it going to be an arm wrestle, a show of strength, or a meek giving way, to decide? Meanwhile, how could a mutual, scored, process somehow lead to two different favourites emerging?

Inevitably, these islands are (almost) equals, certainly rivals, not mutual dependents. We feel we have much to lose, and collaboration doesn’t come easy.

But we must hope that Guernsey’s stance on this is truly solid, and built on much more than island pride.