THE popularity of Senator Alan Breckon rests firmly on a reputation for common sense.

It is a quality he has now displayed again as the architect of what looks like the best plan yet in the apparently interminable debate over how to improve the government of the Island.

As chairman of a working group representing all categories of States Member and including the Chief Minister, Senator Breckon has secured backing for a skilful proposal designed to change the destructive, adversarial brand of politics that was unintentionally ushered into Jersey with the adoption of ministerial government five years ago.

The current system, which has become the subject of growing dissatisfaction both inside and outside the States Assembly, was intended to replace the slow grind of the time-honoured committee structure with the joined-up efficiency of swift ministerial decision-making.

Unfortunately, the reality has been a House divided between the overburdened ministerial ‘haves’, often perceived to be wielding more power than is good for one person, and the backbench ‘have-nots’,  deprived of information and full participation in government and left to snipe from the sidelines; a Scrutiny process too easily hijacked by the riders of personal hobby horses; and an electorate feeling disenfranchised from the decision-making chain while it nevertheless still has to wait for the increased States efficiency which was promised as the trade-off for such radical change. In short, the baby was thrown out with the bath water.

The Breckon Plan proposes a crucial step back towards the consensual politics enabled for so long by the committee system without reintroducing its tendency for muddle and procrastination.

The introduction of ministerial boards of States Members to advise ministers, together with reform of the Scrutiny structure to allow a more wide-ranging, less partisan review of major public policies, looks a far more effective and harmonious way of spreading the talents of the House.

Its key differences from either the committee system or the current version of ministerial government are that non-ministers will be able to serve flexibly on both ministerial boards and review panels, as required, and that ministers will retain their decision-making powers, albeit on the basis of wider wisdom.

Indeed, if Senator Breckon’s proposition is agreed – as it surely should be – the next Chief Minister will have his or her hand strengthened by the ability to dismiss ministers without the approval of the full States, another step towards a more coherent and constructive government set-up.

Meanwhile, the current incumbent, Senator Terry Le Sueur, should be congratulated for having the courage to acknowledge that change is needed and for lending his support to a bold and imaginative plan that might just be the salvation of Island politics as the important elections of 2011 come closer.