THE role in the States of the Bailiff, Deputy Bailiff, the Lieut-Governor, the Attorney General and Solicitor General and the Dean is once again going to come under the spotlight.

On Tuesday, no sooner had Senator Ted Vibert withdrawn his controversial proposition to remove the Dean from the States than he declared his intention to have the roles of all non-elected Members of the House thoroughly examined.

Last month he proposed that upon the present Dean’s resignation in June, no further Dean should have a seat in the House.

‘Even though he cannot vote, the Dean is entitled to speak, which means that he is allowed to try to influence Members of the States.

Modern democracy frowns on unelected people being in a parliament with a right to influence how politicians vote,’ said Senator Vibert at the time of officially lodging his proposition with the States.

But in the States he said: ‘I wish to withdraw my proposition because I have overlooked some important constitutional matters.’ He went on to give a clear indication that he was planning to bring something bigger back to the House, which would investigate the role of all non-elected Members.

Speaking afterwards, he said: ‘I intend to bring a proposition forward at the next sitting of the States for a committee to be set up which will investigate the constitutional rights of the likes of the Lieut-Governor, the Bailiff, the Dean and other non-elected people to sit in the States.’