Blog: The Battle of the Bailiff

Gary Burgess explains why some want the role of the Bailiff to change. Credit: ITV Channel TV

"Order! Order!" barks the speaker of the House of Commons. Indeed, John Bercow MPs theatrical performances during Brexit debates have sent videos of him viral. Their speaker is elected by MPs from MPs.

But in Jersey it's a very different story.

At the moment, the Bailiff, who is the civic head, is both presiding officer in the States Assembly where politicians make laws, and head of the judiciary where he oversees court cases affected by those laws.

The argument goes that judiciary and legislature should be kept separate.

It is how it is in most jurisdictions and, here in the Channel Islands, it's that way in Sark.

But Guernsey has also maintained that dual role, whilst in Alderney a presidentis elected by the people to preside over political meetings.

Senator Sam Mezec, the chairman of Reform Jersey, is the one leading the calls for the change.

He wants there to be an elected speaker. It could either be an existing States Member, or some other islander who would otherwise be eligible to stand as a politician.

However, he faces opposition. Today I visited St John, which is considered one of the more traditional parishes, where I couldn't find a single soul who supported the changes. The general view was: "why fix what's not broken?"

Meanwhile the Constable of Grouville, John Le Maistre, is demanding any change be put to islanders in a referendum.

And there's a curveball from the Chief Minister, Senator John Le Fondre, who's proposing a middle way.

He's calling for the Bailiff to keep all his powers, but also have one States Member chosen as an elected speaker who could deputise for the Bailiff and Deputy Bailiff in States Meetings when they're unavailable - theoretically pleasing those who want reform and those who like tradition.

Though, like Brexit, keeping all sides happy may prove difficult.

Jersey has a long tradition of ducking reform. A referendum to change the political make-up of the States Assembly in 2013 was eventually ignored. And now the symbolically biggest reform of them all faces a rough ride if it's to succeed.