Charter 2018 gathers support and gets to work

Friday 23 February 2018

Within days of being announced, two more States members have signed up to Charter 2018; the group of like minded deputies who have "coalesced around a set of political principles that define their values, thinking and approach to Bailiwick politics for the rest of the term."

States of Alderney representative Graham McKinley has signed up, and says his colleague in the States of Guernsey, Louis Jean, has too.

Mr McKinley said it has become increasingly clear over the past few months that the electorate in both Guernsey and Alderney are not happy with the general performance of Guernsey's States of Deliberation, or some of the decisions which have been made recently.

He said, with that in mind, he chose to sign up to the Charter this week:

"I consider the group of Deputies who have signed up to Charter 2018 to be like-minded friends for whom I have much respect. They are well intentioned and are working for the community and for the Bailiwick as a whole.

"I agree with the principle areas of concern as outlined in the Charter, and I thought it important, and hopefully beneficial to the people of Alderney, that at least one of the Alderney Representatives should be a signatory to the Charter."

Mr McKinley told Express his political colleague has also signed up to the Charter: "I am delighted that Louis Jean shares my views and has also signed up."

Mr McKinley added that he does not think Charter 2018 will lead to party politics in the Bailiwick:

"I should stress that although Charter 2018 may indicate to many the beginning of party politics in the Bailiwick, this is not the main objective. Our main areas of focus during the first months will be effective and efficient government, economy and fiscal concerns, taxation, transport links, environment, as well as others. Any decision to change the structure of government will rest ultimately with the people of the Bailiwick."

Pictured: The original 11 signatories to Charter 2018

Six of the original signatories to Charter 2018 have lodged the group's first Requete, in an attempt to force a States debate on the salary paid to the President of the States Assembley and Constitution Committee.

That role currently attracts a salary of circa £50,000, but the Requete is calling for that to be reduced to the same as an ordinary member gets paid which is closer to £36,000.

The Requete states that, in November 2017, the States approved the current rules for payments to States members, non-States members and former States members. Under those rules, it was agreed the President of SACC is entitled to the same level of remuneration as the Presidents of the Principal Committees, the President of the Scrutiny Management Committee and members of the Policy and Resources Committee.

However, the signatories to the Requete say that is excessive and should be cut by more than ten thousand pounds.

Pictured: Part of the Requete which has been lodged 

The Requete has been lodged by Deputy Neil Inder, and signed by Deputies Carl Meerveld, Barry Paint, Marc Leadbeater, Mary Lowe and Rob Prow, who have all signed up to Charter 2018. It has also been signed by Deputy Victoria Oliver who is reported to be considering signing up to the Charter as well. 

The Requete will be considered at the next available States meeting, which is likely to be towards the end of March. 

The current President of SACC is Deputy Matt Fallaize, but he has tendered his resignation to focus on his new role as President of Education, Sport and Culture. Deputy Peter Roffey has been nominated to replace him.