Would you still be standing if the pay was equal to the States basic pension?
Senator Mike Vibert
I would not have been able to afford to stand at that level of remuneration when my children were at school or university. I, as a Minister, workl long hours and a responsible for a budget of over £100M p.a. and well over 1,000 staff. I believe anyone with such responsibility should be reasonably remunerated.
Montfort Tadier
I am not doing this for the money, but because I think our current States cannot go on as it is. The majority of our government is detached from the will of the people, and the whole system is in desperate need of reform. So the answer is yes.
Deputy Sarah Ferguson
Yes.
Deputy Alan Maclean
Yes. I didn’t enter politics for the money.
Cliff Le Clercq
Sadly we don’t live in a virtuous Utopia, and I am not wealthy. When only the rich could stand it was even worse as they made decisions that only favoured the rich. A salary enables fairer representation from all walks of life, so the concerns of ordinary people get addressed.
Senator Philip Ozouf
Currently, all Members are paid exactly the same, irrespective of responsibility. I hear many people say £42,000 is far too much money for all the Members. I agree. The whole system needs to be looked at again and we need an independent commission to look at States remuneration.
Mike Higgins
No. If it was, the States would be populated by more wealthy millionaires than there are at present. They have no idea what people in the real world are experiencing and more taxes like GST and policies adversely affecting low and middle income families would be the result.
Nick Palmer
No, States work should be a full-time job and unless one is independently wealthy, no one could afford to live without a salary, particularly in Jersey nowadays.
Senator Paul Routier
No. When first elected there were only small allowances paid and that was OK because I was able to work part-time in the States and my business. Now that a States Member’s work should be full time and for ministers on call all the time, they should be paid accordingly.
Deputy Alan Breckon
I did stand first in 1990 when payment and allowances were very much lower than at present.
Deputy Geoff Southern
No. I am a full-time politician. Either as Deputy or Senator, being a member of the States is a full-time job. Reducing States’ Members’ pay would simply mean that only the wealthy or retired could stand for election.
Trevor Pitman
I am well aware that there are other ordinary working people like me with the quality to do an excellent job for their Island. Removing a salary would ensure the only people who could stand would be the wealthy or retired. We need more ‘ordinary’ people and less property developers!
Chris Perkins
No, I would not be able to support my family. The States is comprised of career politicians and the independently wealthy. It needs more working people. They will understand the needs of ordinary Jersey folk. Quality, not quantity. Fewer States members, but remunerated sufficiently to attract the right candidates.
Nick Le Cornu
No. It would not be possible to run my Bentley and Chinese mistress on such a derisory sum – circa £120 per week. I don’t understand how pensioners manage to do so either.
Ian Le Marquand
Yes. I have given up my post as Magistrate to stand for this election. I agree with the current level of pay for States members as this allows people to stand for the States who could not afford to otherwise and allows a wider variety of views to be represented.
Mark Forskitt
Yes, I served as a county councillor on an expenses and allowance only basis. It produces an unbalanced representation so not to be encouraged.