YESTERDAY’S election for Deputies produced results which are highly significant on a number of counts.

To begin with, it was a night of triumph for the Jersey Democratic Alliance and, at least potentially, for the party political approach. Having swept the board in St Helier No 2 district and adding two members to their team in office, the JDA has every justification for feeling very well pleased with its performance. The party should also be congratulated on keeping faith with its ideals, persevering and successfully dragging itself up from previous electoral defeats.

Last night was also a night when youth came to the fore. At the age of 21, Deputy-elect Jeremy Maçon will soon be sworn in as the youngest ever States Member. He will be joined by other newcomers in their 20s who, irrespective of policies, allegiances or perspectives, will add a new, and some will say much-needed, dimension to the Assembly.

In addition, the failure of certain sitting Deputies – among them former Transport Minister Guy de Faye, who was trounced in St Helier No 3 – shows that the wind of change blew through yesterday’s proceedings from other directions too. Even if results fell a long, long way short of annihilation of the prevailing order, notable figures who made their political marks in ways ranging from quiet competence to resolute individualism lost their seats.

Meanwhile, although depressingly low polls in many constituencies make it legitimate to ask just how comprehensively the full spectrum of Islanders’ attitudes and interests will be represented, the new States Assembly will certainly be a broader church. The left and youth are well in evidence among the 12 new Members and we shall also see a committed ‘green’ making a contribution inside and outside the Chamber.

But the new balance sets the scene for threats as well as great opportunities. The former dominance of the ‘establishment’ tendency will clearly be undermined, and though it can most certainly be argued that this will lead to a more thorough examination of issues, the danger is that decisiveness, one of the virtues of the ministerial system, will be displaced by unproductive factional fighting.

The new balance will also influence the selection of a new Chief Minister. Whoever wins the top job must be capable of forming an administration that reflects the range of talent now available and of coaxing consensus from the new diversity.