In seeking to establish deputies’ attendance records for the major committees, and then publish them, we admitted that we knew it would whip up interest.
Primarily we expected that to come from the Facebook commenters who would chip in with the usual line – ‘if I don’t go to work, I don’t get paid’.
We didn’t expect that would come from deputies mortified that their attendance record had been called out without any context given, as Deputy Jayne Ozanne quickly did on social media.
As was explained to her by another journalist chipping on Facebook, the attendance records are ‘a matter of record’. The reasons for not attending may be many and varied, and may equally be justified – a medical appointment, or receiving the OBE at Windsor Castle. But they’re not necessary. If members want to advise the voters why they weren’t in the room, they are absolutely free to do so, without attempting to trash the journalism.
If we had thought their attendance record was poor, we would have asked them to enlighten our readers. We did so with three deputies – two explained, and one didn’t reply. Those not asked weren’t considered to have egregious records.
The point was also well made that attendance doesn’t necessary equate to performance. True. But it offers a platform to contribute. There’s a reason that corporate boards expect directors to attend board meetings, and it’s an expectation that’s also befitting of public life.
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