I’m writing in response to Mark Ogier’s article on 23 April regarding Mr David Reed’s declaration that, if elected, he will do ‘absolutely nothing’. It is certainly a headline-grabber, but unfortunately, it also clashes head-on with the law.
The Reform (Guernsey) Law, 1948 requires candidates to sign a declaration of their willingness to serve if elected. This is not a gesture, it is a legal obligation. To sign it while intending to abstain from office is, at best, disingenuous and, at worst, a criminal offence.
While I respect Mr Reed’s imaginative attempt to highlight political waste, democracy is not performance art. Public office is not a protest position, it is a responsibility rooted in law and public trust. Promising to leave a seat empty risks misleading voters and may well trigger the very by-election he hopes to avoid.
Before reimagining democracy, I would suggest a more thorough reading of the law that governs it, especially if one is to stand for election.
Sarah Hansmann Rouxel
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