A JERSEY report that suggested the Bailiff should no longer preside over that States has been rejected as ‘thinly argued’ by Sir Geoffrey Rowland.

An independent paper on the role of Jersey’s Bailiff, which is almost identical to that of Guernsey’s, said the current practice within the islands – of the Bailiff acting as presiding officer of the States alongside his position as head of the judiciary – went against modern ideas of democracy.

A Lord Carswell-led panel recommended that the Bailiff be replaced as presiding officer – a role that is similar to the Speaker in the House of Commons.

Guernsey Bailiff Sir Geoffrey (pictured) yesterday said he believed the Lord Carswell report had been regarded as a ‘non-event’ locally. ‘I thought it was very, very thinly argued indeed,’ he said.

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