“Failed candidate” rhetoric sparks social media debate

Wednesday 06 October 2021

An ex-Deputy has raised concerns about the use of “election insults” to denigrate candidates who weren’t voted in to the States.

It follows a non-voting member of the Committee for Employment and Social Security getting involved in an online spat which led to him being referred to as a “failed candidate” from previous elections.

Ross Le Brun stood in the 2020 Island Wide Election, but did not secure enough votes to get in. He has since been appointed to ESS as a non-voting, non-States member.

A vocal member of the committee, Mr Le Brun has been in hot water before, with his use of the term "billshutters" about some deputies causing offence. His social media comments have previously been called into question by the President of Economic Development, Deputy Neil Inder, who wrote to the President of ESS, Deputy Peter Roffey, earlier this year.

“No one can claim as a double ex-candidate he didn’t have a certain style about him," said Deputy Inder at the time. 

Mr Le Brun’s has recently poked fun at deputies' behaviour in the chamber last week, when a change in the seating layout led to arguments about who would sit where. Some deputies are reported to have gone in to the chamber earlier than usual or left their belongings behind to 'reserve' chosen sites for themselves and their political allies.

He was accused of being childish by another Twitter user, which was then followed by Deputy Inder describing him as a “failed candidate – I expect nothing less.”

There's no helping him. As a Non States Member on ESS making jokes about job centres at the bus terminus (now deleted) and his constant briefing against States Members - failed candidate. I expect nothing less.

— tothevale (@tothevale) October 4, 2021

The non-States member of ESS responded to that, saying that he had not deleted the post and was "thinking out loud" about ways to make employment advice more accessible.

wasn’t a joke, was thinking out loud & not deleted ????

Outreach of job centre functions is not a bad idea. Make employment advice more accessible

I’m a failed candidate
we had 38 successful candidates
we already don’t have 38 successful politicians https://t.co/9OkegjVyqa https://t.co/K6my5xX1Bb

— Ross Le Brun (@RossLeBrun) October 5, 2021

The comment drew criticism from ex-Deputy Barry Brehaut, who said “the ‘failed candidate’ narrative is disrespectful,” in a post online.

I’ve kept in contact with unsuccessful candidates, generally there’s a type of camaraderie through shared experience. Deputy Inder shouldn’t denigrate those who were motivated to serve the community as he was. ‘Failed candidate’ is just an extension of negative campaigning.

— Barry Brehaut. ???????????????????????????????????????????? (@BrehautBarry) October 5, 2021

Pictured: Mr Brehaut tweeted his concerns yesterday.

The former Environment & Infrastructure President, who lost his seat in the island's first fully island-wide election, said those types of comments risk deterring people from standing in the future.

Neither Deputy Inder or Mr Le Brun wanted to comment any further following their exchange online.