'The States shouldn't ignore international advice'

The head of Jersey's Privileges and Procedures Committee (PPC) has said the decision to change electoral law by reintroducing senators less than a year before the next election goes against international best practice.

The States Assembly voted in March to reintroduce senators in time for the June 2026 election and rejected an amendment from the committee to delay bringing them back until 2030.

Constable Karen Shenton-Stone said her panel put forward the amendment because the Venice Commission and Commonwealth Parliamentary Association advised not making changes to electoral law within a year of an election.

Shenton-Stone said the legislation would not be brought for approval until the autumn.

Shenton-Stone said she was frustrated the advice of international bodies was being ignored.

"The Venice Commission is internationally respected and the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association is held in very high regard, so these are not bodies you should adhere to if you want and not adhere to if you don't", she said.

"It doesn't show us (the States Assembly) in a shining light, to bring something when you know you are going against the Venice Commission and the CPA.

"Our amendment wasn't to scupper (bringing back senators) but you can't pick and choose what rules you want to follow."

Shenton-Stone said her panel would work with law officers to deliver the legislative changes even though it wouldn't be in line with international guidance.

"It will be delivered", she said.

"I think the chief minister thought it would be brought back to the assembly in June, but I don't think it will be brought back till the autumn."

'Ample time'

Chief Minister Deputy Lyndon Farnham told the States Assembly before members voted to reintroduce senators the legislation could be brought to the States before the summer recess.

He said at the time: "I have been assured that this is possible, subject of course to prompt action by the the PPC and the States Greffe, who would need to ensure a timely turn around of the draft law, something I am sure they would do on the back of States decision.

"The Privy Council meets once a month to approve laws, so the change would be in place later this year in ample time for the election in June 2026."

A new law officer was brought in to speed up the relevant legal drafting.

Farnham added during the debate in March: "The Venice Commission and other similar bodies are well respected and well regarded, but they provide guidance and in their guidance they are clear that they accept that there are many different types, shapes and sizes of jurisdictions.

"They always say they expect to see differences in circumstances and instances where jurisdictions will need to work outside their guidelines, which is what they are; they are guidelines and recommendations."

Follow BBC Jersey on X and Facebook. Send your story ideas to channel.islands@bbc.co.uk.