ON THE letters page today, this newspaper’s view that the States can act with a degree of perversity is questioned by a St Sampson’s deputy, who seeks further explanation from us on the claim.

The point we were seeking to make was with reference to the chief minister’s difficulties regarding his deputy over the racist ‘joke’ incident and how nominating a replacement is virtually guaranteed to provoke alternative candidate(s).

Faced with that, a number of members would vote for anyone other than the chief minister’s choice, no matter how good or capable he or she might be.

The reasons would vary but the effect is the same – a perverse reluctance to allow the head of the Policy Council to build a team.

However, the letter also touches on (and implies we are opposed to) deputies asking searching questions. The reality is, of course, that we are not and believe that the House as a whole is far too receptive to what comes from what is now called ‘the centre’, the Policy Council and its officers in Frossard House.

Trying, for example, to trip up the chief minister appears pointless but harrying Education for its clumsy lack of direction over St Andrew’s School is what members should be doing.

The department claimed that it merely ‘recommended’ the school remained open yet its Billet d’Etat report on the matter released today openly speaks of its ‘decision’ that the school remains open.

Having left parents, pupils and teachers in limbo while it considers what to do, Education decides not to close and tells everyone.

Now, however, it is all back in the melting pot with the possibility of not one reprieve but two closures if St Sampson’s Infants is chopped, too.

The episode begs the question why bother letting the departments come to any decisions of any substance at all if members believe the process of government is best conducted by a committee of 47 meeting monthly in the Royal Court?

It also raises another question deputies might like to pursue: if a minister announces life-changing decisions about, say, the future of a school can anyone believe what they say?