Political sympathies should be stated on candidate’s manifesto
JON Moulton’s excellent column on the proposed anti-discrimination legislation has prompted me to write because it is a typically socialist, left-wing policy document. It highlights the choice that islanders will have to make at the next election.
It is not much disputed that the current Assembly is divided fairly evenly between what can broadly be described as ‘socialist left’ and ‘conservative right’, whereas the latter has tended to have a majority in previous governments. This polarisation has made it difficult for each wing to bring forward legislation in line with its aspirations, let alone get it through the Assembly once it gets into the Billet.
I think the characteristics of the ‘socialist’ members are that they are typically driven by emotion and ideals without regard to alternative arguments. They tend to be so certain of their cause that they pursue it regardless of public opinion or factual evidence.
The abolition of the 11-plus against the 61% view of the consultation and the installation of the Richmond Corner crossing, ‘to encourage cyclists and pedestrians’, are typical examples.
The present emphasis on green policies, much of it a knee-jerk reaction to the attention-seeking dramatics of a Swedish schoolgirl, is a further example. By all means we want to be a responsible community, but we need to consider the practical effect of any legislation. There are many statistics quoted, not least by one of your regular columnists, but another source recently stated that the UK was responsible for 1.3% of the world’s carbon footprint. Rightly or wrongly, whatever Guernsey does is basically immaterial. I would not mind betting that if we achieve the savings that are targeted, it would amount to less than the emissions created by five voyages of the cruise liners which we welcome.
On the other hand, the characteristics of the ‘right’ are primarily concerned with the economy. They want less regulation and seek sensible growth, accepting that this might entail more construction and increased population as necessary to be able to pay for the ever-increasing costs of health and social care and the maintenance of our infrastructure.
Returning then to the election next June, it seems unlikely now that the nascent political parties will get sufficient, critical mass to play a significant part. How then are the electorate going to be able to make a clear choice of the type of Assembly they want?
They will not be helped by the generality of most manifestos which support everything. Therefore, I believe it should be a requirement of all candidates to clearly state whether their political sympathies are socialist or conservative, left wing or right wing.
The result might still be a deadlock, but there is a good chance that one wing will have a ‘working majority’ and our government will be more effective. The electorate would have a better judgement of their voting and the effect of a party system would be achieved without deputies being compromised.
GEOFF DOREY
Les Queux,
Ruette des Effards,
Castel,
Guernsey, GY5 7DQ.
