I would like to commence the sitting today by asking Members to stand and to observe one minute’s silence. [Silence] Members have gathered this afternoon at the earliest opportunity to pay tribute to the memory of Her Majesty the Queen, a remarkable lady, who has been our Queen since 1952 and who has over that time earned the respect of millions. As I speak, there are probably many thousands gathering in similar circumstances elsewhere throughout the Commonwealth to reflect on the life of our late sovereign and to come to terms with her passing. There is no doubt in my mind that the people of this Island hold a very deep and loyal affection for the late Queen, our Duke, and their regard and respect for her of the very highest order. She has been a constant and central presence in the life of the people of the British Isles generally. Her life has been a life of duty and I know that there are a great number in our community who would wish to honour her memory as a measure of our collective loyalty to the Crown and in recognition of her service. Her life brought many blessings to us all and she will be remembered with the greatest of warmth. It is right and proper, along with other communities throughout the Commonwealth, that in Jersey the States Assembly should convene to honour our late sovereign. As a Crown Dependency, Jersey has every reason to be thankful for the life of our late Queen and to celebrate her many achievements, personal leadership and charisma that has had such a positive impact on the people of the Commonwealth during the post-war era. She was and is an example to us all. Compassionate when needed. Resilient when under pressure. Gracious and, above all, deeply interested in the lives of her people in all the corners of the Commonwealth, fortified in all of her service by her deep faith. She was a modern Queen and pioneered a new generation of the royal family. On the demise of her father, King George VI, she had to step in at a young age to take his place when she heard of his death while visiting Kenya in 1952 in an official capacity. Later that year she was crowned Elizabeth II, by the grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and her other realms and territories, Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith. As the longest reigning monarch in the history of the British Isles, the Queen understood better than many the requirement of duty and service to her people and Jersey was blessed indeed to receive her here on no fewer than 6 occasions during her reign. Without exception on every one of those occasions she was warmly received into the heart of our community, indeed into the hearts of individual Islanders where she was admired and revered for her interest in all things Jersey. Indeed, as our Queen, Notre Duc, her life was both long and productive and, by example to all of us in this Chamber who aspire to serve the community, she was an exemplary leader who inspired many. Our thoughts are today with all the members of the royal family at this time of deep sorrow and of profound loss. The Island has sent the following message to His Majesty King Charles III: “Your Majesty, the Bailiff, the States and the people of Jersey have received with deep sorrow and sadness the news of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and wish to convey to your Majesty and members of the royal family their deepest sympathy of the loss of our beloved Queen. Many Islanders recall with great affection Her Majesty’s visits to Jersey in 1949, 1957, 1978, 1989, 2001, and her most recent in 2005, when she attended the Island’s 60th anniversary liberation celebrations and unveiled the liberation sculpture on Jersey’s waterfront. The people of Jersey will all cherish very happy memories of her visits which have spanned across many generations of our community, which has been touched by the warmth of her interest in Island life. Islanders join all other Commonwealth subjects in mourning the passing of a much-loved sovereign, whose life has been an example to us all, and rejoice in the many blessings and moments of joy her life brought to so many across her realm. We hope that your Majesty will be comforted by the knowledge of the affection in which Her Majesty the Queen was held in this bailiwick.” I have signed that message as Bailiff. I now call upon the Chief Minister to address the Assembly.

STATEMENTS ON A MATTER OF OFFICIAL RESPONSIBILITY

2. The Chief Minister will pay tribute to Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

2.1 Deputy K.L. Moore of St. Mary, St. Ouen and St. Peter (The Chief Minister):

On this sad occasion of the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, I rise to express my deepest sorrow and offer sincere condolences to the royal family on behalf of the Government of Jersey. I have written to His Majesty the King to express our heartfelt sympathies and our profound admiration for the life and service of the late Queen. I know that all Members share the grief that is felt across the Island, the Commonwealth and, indeed, the world, at this unique moment in history. Our thoughts are very much with all members of the royal family as we join them in their period of mourning.

[15:15]

Throughout her 7 decades on the throne, Her Majesty as La Reine, Notre Duc - the Queen, our Duke - reflect the 1,000-strong year relationship between the Crown and our Bailiwick. From the time that her forebears were the Dukes of Normandy. The majority of Islanders have never known a time without Her Majesty as our sovereign. During her reign she presided over many exceptional moments and challenges, seeing 15 British Prime Ministers, the evolution of the Commonwealth of Nations, and Britain’s entry into and exit of the European Union, to name but a few. Her Majesty has overseen periods of great economic, social and cultural change and throughout her time the Queen was the embodiment of stability and continuity. Her Majesty has always played a steadying, comforting, calming role during her 70 years as Queen and her iconic presence was for many a defining symbol of Britain around the world. Her annual Christmas addresses being an established fixture in many households offered a chance of reflection collectively on the triumphs and tribulations of each year that passed. At times of national celebration, commemoration, mourning or crisis Her Majesty always found the words to reflect the hearts and minds of her people. Looking back on her reign as sovereign one cannot help but admire her strength of character, her sense of duty and judgment. An example that will endure with us all for ever more. Such steadfast commitment to the British family and to the Commonwealth upon which her legacy is firmly imprinted. We must equally recognise that the Queen was not and was never solely a representation of tradition, history and stability. She was also a modern Queen, as you say, using all means of technology to live her life, undertake her duties and engage with her people. She embraced and managed change in a manner which we can all learn from. Closer to home, Her Majesty’s reign encompassed 13 Lieutenant Governors, 9 Bailiffs and 5 Chief Ministers of our Island. She visited Jersey 6 times, first as Princess in 1949 when she attended a special sitting of this Assembly. A painting of one of those occasions proudly graces the walls of this building, and I have to say it is a personal favourite of mine. In more recent times, Her Majesty returned to Jersey in 2001 and again in 2005, celebrating on the latter occasion 60 years since our Island’s liberation from German occupation. With her characteristic energy and devotion, so many Islanders were able to meet or to be in the presence of Her Majesty on those occasions. I know that many Islanders will cherish those memories of those visits, and especially that final visit as we remember Her Majesty today. I hope that despite the profound sorrow that we all feel on this day we can look also back at Her Majesty’s reign and long record of public service fondly, remembering the inspiring role she played in our lives and the duty she brought to her position. It is for all of those reasons that I have mentioned that the Queen is so respected throughout the world, a fact that has been demonstrated again and so clearly over the past hours. We are so very fortunate to have lived under her reign, experienced her leadership and witnessed her service. That legacy will remain with us all. It will therefore be important for us to properly recognise Her Majesty’s glorious reign. As Islanders, we have for centuries celebrated our loyal allegiance to the Crown. That loyalty will endure in this new era. In showing our respect and admiration for the Queen I hope that Members will allow me to give a nod to the times that are to come, as I believe Her Majesty would wish. Those of us who have lived during this second Elizabethan era are now all subjects of King Charles III or, to use the historic term, we are now Caroleans. King Charles has been a strong advocate of dealing with many of the challenges we face in the modern world, including climate change, defending nature, promoting agriculture and enhancing the built environment. These are passions which Islanders share with him and which will continue throughout the King’s reign, I can assume. During His Majesty’s time on the throne our aspirations will continue to align and our relationship with the Crown will remain as strong, successful and important as it has been through those 7 decades. May Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II rest in eternal peace and God save the King.

The Bailiff:

I now call upon the chair of the Privileges and Procedures Committee to pay tribute to Her Late Majesty the Queen.

3. The Chair of the Privileges and Procedures Committee will pay tribute to Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

3.1 Connétable K. Shenton-Stone of St. Martin (Chair, Privileges and Procedures Committee):

It is with great sadness that I am standing in this special States sitting to pay tribute to Her Majesty Queen Elizbeth II who passed away yesterday, ending her 70-year reign as our monarch. Hers was the longest reign of any British monarch and the second longest recorded of any monarch of a sovereign country. This Assembly is perhaps best placed to remember Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II as a leader, a figurehead who provided unwavering consistency in a world that has undergone radical transformation. She understood the role of a constitutional monarch better than anyone else and became a beacon of stoic and principled calm, steadfast in her duty and devoted to her role. But beneath this unwavering loyalty she was known for being conscientious, compassionate and caring. The Queen embodied the values that made her such an incredible public servant. She built an unbreakable bond with our Island and our nation and it is only right that we celebrate this impeccable achievement in the days ahead. As with so many in this Assembly, in this Island, and around the world, I mourn her death and I am thankful for the life she lived. Our Island is founded on a devotion to public service and our community and Her Majesty’s life was founded on these principles. Hers was a life of dignity, a life of diplomacy and a life like no other. A remarkable woman who was steadfast and true and was there for those who lived through the Second World War to the present day. As the Queen said, her beloved husband Philip was her strength and her stay. It is obvious from the outpouring of love and grief that she was our strength and our stay. She was always there to be relied on with her benign strength, her wisdom and her generous smile. We all felt we knew her. I asked my daughter who is in her early 20s what the Queen meant to her and she replied that the Queen was a feminist icon. I had never thought of the Queen in these terms but of course she was. She acceded to the throne in 1952, a young woman of 25 surrounded by male courtiers and male politicians, all advising her what to do. Until 1979 all her Prime Ministers were men and the world leaders are still mainly all male. She was a young woman with a strong moral compass, a deep-seated sense of duty, an enquiring mind and she held her own. She matured and she shone. What a different world it was in 1952. In Jersey in 1952, there were 52 Members of the States Assembly and only one Member, Ivy Foster, was female. Today, at the end of the modern Elizabethan age, we have 49 Members in the Assembly and 21 Members are female. There is still a long way to go for equality across the board but I do believe that this young woman of 25 in 1952 helped bring women to the forefront. She was often a lone female in a sea of men but she was steadfast and wise and true to herself. Throughout her life she was admired for her diplomacy. The former Prime Minister, David Cameron, described the Queen as the greatest diplomat in the world and, as recently as June of this year, the British ambassador, Laure Beaufils, said that Queen Elizabeth II had been a strong force in maintaining the United Kingdom’s bilateral relations with the Governments worldwide. She said that the Queen was the best diplomat that we have in the U.K. (United Kingdom). Indeed she was only recently described as the ultimate diplomat. On the global stage the Queen became what ABC News’ Adrian Raschella described as the ultimate diplomat. Over the course of her reign she visited over 100 countries at the request of the U.K. Government until her 90th year, and welcomed thousands of world leaders, ambassadors, and other members of the diplomatic community into her residences. She celebrated the ties and shared interests of Britain and other nations. She met more than a quarter of all the American Presidents who have ever lived, not to mention more than 2 million people around the world. She undertook these duties with aplomb, combining a gift for conversation with her renown sense of humour. While we, as an Island, retain autonomy in government we owe our allegiance to the Queen and her role as Duke of Normandy. It is that allegiance which makes our community so deeply saddened by the news of her passing. As I walked into the States building today I saw the many bouquets of flowers laid down at the steps of the Royal Court, which symbolises our Island’s loyalty to the Crown and our fondness for the Queen. As our Duke, and as the living personification of the British state, our ultimate constitutional arbiter, she signed the Assembly’s legislation into law, never failing to recognise our fundamental rights to self-determination and self-governance as a dependency of the Crown. The Queen achieved a democratic role by assuming intervention and allowing the people to take a lead on even the most fundamental constitutional issues. In some ways, she provided that essential distinction between politics and everyday life that you often need somebody to look towards, not for answers but for resilience and unwavering determination. Here, in Jersey, I am sure many of us are remembering Her Majesty’s royal visits, which have been such memorable events, honouring the work and achievements of our community. The Queen visited Jersey on various occasions during her reign. Her first direct contact with Jersey came about while she was still Princess Elizabeth, after the Occupation had ended. She appreciated the privation and in many cases the starvation that had been suffered by so many Islanders. She sent pots of honey to all school children. Rationing was taking place and so to have received a sweet treat must have meant so much. During the Queen’s visit in 1978 to mark her Silver Jubilee in 1977 the Queen attended a special sitting of the States and Ken Howard R.A. was commissioned to paint a commemorative painting for the sitting. Almost next to where I am standing today sat my father, and he is in that painting. The painting hangs on the bend of the stairs to this Assembly. My father loved the Queen. He held her in great esteem and he was also born in the same year, 1926. I look at that painting when I have a major speech to deliver and I looked at it today. Today, in the Assembly the chair next to the Bailiff where the Queen is sat is empty and today there is a great sense of emptiness that someone so constant in our lives is gone. Her Majesty’s most recent visit was May 2005 to mark the 60th anniversary of our liberation from German occupation. During that visit she said to the Bailiff: “I am delighted to be able to join you for these celebration, May I express the hope that your freedom, which you are celebrating today, will continue to inspire you in the years ahead” and I feel she has inspired us with her steadfastness, her quiet strength and her unwavering dedication to her country. In May this year Her Majesty also wrote a letter to the people of Jersey sending her warmest greetings to mark the 77th anniversary of the Island’s liberation from occupying forces. As part of the celebrations for her 70th Jubilee, her son Prince Edward visited the Island and met with survivors of the Occupation. I sat with parishioners and one of our parishioners, Gerald Lecoq, an ex-Procureur, sat next to Prince Edward and out of his pocket he pulled out a St. Martin Jubilee badge and asked Prince Edward to show it to his mother. It would be lovely to think that the Prince did show it to the Queen. Unfortunately, like many others, I never personally met the Queen but I have fond memories of the times when we did cross paths.

[15:30]

The first one was at the Buckingham Palace garden party accompanying my parents. Years later when she was visiting the R.J.A. and H.S. (Royal Jersey Agricultural and Horticultural Society) she stopped and smiled at my daughter who reached out to the Queen while I held my daughter in my arms. It must have only taken about 30 seconds but it is something that will always live with me. I also remember the joy that my mother and father had on meeting the Queen on several occasions and having dinner on the Royal Yacht Britannia as representatives of the Island. Her Majesty’s reign and her devotion to public service remains an inspiration to many Islanders and to those around the world. Her Majesty undoubtedly formed a special bond with the people of Jersey during her reign and we will miss her presence greatly. I offer my heartfelt and deep sympathies to our new King Charles III and to all members of the royal family on the loss of Queen Elizabeth II. Our friends and our fellow Crown Dependencies, the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth and around the world have lost an exceptional monarch who will leave a deep mark on history and an exceptional legacy. On behalf of the Assembly, I would like to thank our La Reine Notre Duc, Queen Elizabeth, you will be so missed. May you rest in peace.

PERSONAL STATEMENTS

The Bailiff:

Thank you very much indeed, Connétable. The Assembly now moves on to an opportunity for Members to make tributes of their own. We will bring that part of the sitting to a close at 5 o’clock or earlier if no one else wishes to make contributions. At 5 o’clock there will need to be matters of practical business to be dealt with, attendant upon the events of the last 2 days relating to the future order in the States business, and therefore we need to leave sufficient opportunity for that to happen. But it is now open to Members. We have said there will be a limit of 5 minutes for any intervention. Naturally, if every Member wishes to speak we will run out of time if everyone sticks to 5 minutes but that is what we thought would be fair to do.

4. Tributes to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

4.1 Connétable M.K. Jackson of St. Brelade:

This is a personal statement but also a statement as chairman of the Comité des Connétables. It is with very deep sadness that we received the news yesterday of the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Parishioners across the Island are today sharing the profound sadness and sense of loss. We remember with gratitude Her Late Majesty’s devotion to duty in service during an unprecedented 70 years. Reference has already been made to Her Late Majesty’s 6 visits to the Island and during this time she will have visited many of the Parishes and been welcome by not only Connétables of the day but also thousands of parishioners. The Parishes have also been honoured, as the Honorary Police of Jersey were the first recipient in Jersey in 2003 of the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Award for voluntary service by groups in the community. Many members of the Honorary Police have also received Jubilee medals presented to the emergency services to mark Her Late Majesty’s Golden, Diamond and most recently Platinum Jubilees. As we remember Her Late Majesty’s 70 years’ service, we reflect on the Platinum Jubilee celebrations that each Parish enjoyed only 3 months ago. The lasting legacy of the Platinum Jubilee is the Queen’s green canopy, a unique tree-planting initiative which will continue through to the end of the Jubilee year and which recognises Her Late Majesty’s service to the nation. Her late Majesty’s commitments to the Commonwealth were noted during a recent C.P.A. (Commonwealth Parliamentary Association) visit to Canada I was fortunate to attend with colleagues from this Chamber last month. The spread and diversity of the Commonwealth is something to behold and we must thank Her Late Majesty for her continued efforts in maintaining this organisation. As already mentioned, books of condolence are available at every Parish Hall and our thoughts and prayers are with Her Late Majesty’s family and the wider community at this time.

4.2 Deputy S.Y. Mézec of St. Helier South:

I speak on behalf of Reform Jersey’s members to convey our shared sadness at the passing of Her Majesty the Queen. Many thousands of our fellow Islanders will be feeling a great sense of sorrow right now. Most of us have known nothing other than Elizabeth II as our Queen, a constant presence while so much has changed around us throughout her reign. Whatever one’s politics are it is surely impossible not to have admired the way in which the Queen carried out her duties over her long life with grace and dignity, serving as an example to all. From her wartime service where she served full time in the fight against fascism, to the leadership and comfort she provided during the COVID pandemic. All of this meticulously above partisan politics as a unifying figure throughout difficult times. One thing which I admired in particular about her was the symbolic role she played in reconciliation efforts. Whether that was with the leaders of post-colonial independent nations, Irish republicans, or those with whom we had in the past been at war with, those images of her shaking hands and breaking bread with those who we had previously been in conflict with, showing her personal willingness to forgive and to apologise to will hopefully endure and serve as an inspiration for those who strive for peace. Our world is a better place when nations and communities act as friends and supporters of one another, not as enemies or competitors. So it should be said that His Majesty King Charles himself has played an important part in these efforts in recent years too. The sense of grief and loss that we feel at a time like this is both collective and deeply personal. But it is also tempered by a huge feeling of gratitude for a life well-lived and a blueprint for service and selflessness that can be a model for all of us as well as one of hope for the inevitable challenges in the future. On behalf of my colleagues in Reform Jersey, I extend our sincere condolences to the royal family but also our thanks and recognition for Her Majesty’s 7 decades of service as monarch and Duke.

4.3 Deputy R. Kovacs of St. Saviour:

I want to pass on my respects and sympathy to the royal family and everyone in the U.K. and the Commonwealth on the very sad loss of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II who devoted her whole life to public service. I also want to join the Romanian representatives from U.K., Romania and other parts of the world that transmitted their sympathy messages by expressing our deepest condolences and admiration for the iconic Queen on behalf of the Romanian community in Jersey. Her memory will for ever remain in people’s conscience all over the world as a remarkable personality and will be greatly missed. May she rest in peace.

4.4 Deputy H. Miles of St. Brelade:

As Minister for Home Affairs and on behalf of all the Justice and Home Affairs services, the States of Jersey Police and the Jersey Field Squadron, I would like to express my sincere and solemn condolences to the royal family. The uniformed services and armed forces share a special connection with the Crown and we share in the profound sadness felt across Great Britain and the Commonwealth at this heavy loss. The Queen embodied a dedication to national service that has been and will, I am sure, remain truly unrivalled. Her sense of duty and personal sacrifice will serve for generations as a model of exemplary public service. Her legacy will continue to inspire us as we act at all times to serve our community. In a personal capacity, I am sure that I would not be standing in this Assembly today if it were not for Her Majesty. Her commitment to raising the status of women across our community, and indeed the Commonwealth, meant that we had both a champion and a role model. Her values of trust, honesty, integrity and above all community, have influenced my life, whether as a young girl in the Brownies and Girl Guides where I promised to serve my Queen and my community and help other people, to my charity work, to the oaths of office in relevant public service roles. I hope that young women today will come to understand the very important role that our Queen had in promoting women’s leadership during her long and prosperous reign. La Reine Notre Duc, may she rest in peace.

4.5 Deputy L.M.C. Doublet of St. Saviour:

I join my colleagues in expressing my heartfelt condolences to the royal family and to all who knew and loved the Queen. The Queen leaves a vast and varied legacy behind her and she was a symbol of many things to many people. As others have mentioned before me, she was in many ways the ultimate feminist icon and without a doubt a huge inspiration to women and girls across the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth and beyond. During the Second World War, as the Princess Elizabeth, she was a visible symbol of the strength and the vital role women played in the war effort and as a member of the Auxiliary Territorial Service . She was the first female member of the royal family to join the armed services full time. She gave assent to the succession laws being changed to ensure that daughters and sons are equally entitled to inherit the Crown. As our Queen, she was perhaps the most prominent working mother in the world. When she opened the 100th annual meeting of the Women’s Institute in June 2015 the Queen remarked that: “In the modern world the opportunities for women to give something of value to society are greater than ever because through their own efforts they now play a much greater part in all areas of public life.” Her own example being a woman of strength, wisdom and dignity in the highest public office no doubt played a part in bringing this to pass. As a humanist, I respect the example that she showed in respecting and including those of all faiths and none. I send my condolences from the humanist community in the Channel Islands. Throughout her long reign, she welcomed those of all backgrounds and beliefs and she was a shining example to us all on how to conduct ourselves in public office. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will be much missed and remembered with affection. May she rest in peace.

4.6 Deputy K.F. Morel of St. John, St. Lawrence and Trinity:

As the chair of P.P.C. (Privileges and Procedures Committee) has so ably demonstrated, the Queen was loved and inspired by millions if not billions of people. Each will remember her in their own unique ways. One of the ways in which I remember the Queen was as someone who, while not able to express herself publicly in a political manner, found other ways to do so using her clothing, her brooches, as ways of expressing her thoughts on particular matters. The subtlety of that and the grace of that is astounding and something I will long remember. I also remember the Queen as a supporter of arts and culture. Her many visits to the Island show that she understood the uniqueness of Jersey’s own heritage and valued our heritage here as well. She valued our Island’s strong and long history of recognising monarchs, as we can see immediately outside this Assembly, in the hallway, in the Royal Square and Victoria Park. For centuries this Assembly has been loyal to the Crown. Most recently, the Queen, always someone to embrace the new, agreed in 2004 to sit for an innovative portrait that was commissioned by the Jersey Heritage Trust and created by the artist Chris Levine and the holographer Rob Munday. The work was called Equanimity and it was commissioned to commemorate the occasion of 800 years of our allegiance to the Crown. Today it sits in Mont Orgueil Castle. Equanimity is a stunning portrait that captures the likeness of the Queen in a most unusual manner for royal portraits. The use of a holographic medium brings a depth to the picture that reflects the depth of Her Majesty’s own character and undoubted wisdom and her constant calm during all times, no matter how disruptive events may have been. So on this most solemn occasion, I am pleased to inform you that following your own request, Jersey Heritage is opening Mont Orgueil Castle to all Islanders and visitors to the Island this weekend so that people may view this unique portrait of our beloved Queen and pay their respects within a building that has represented the Island’s allegiance to the Crown through so many centuries. I would like to thank you for making the request and offer my sincerest gratitude to Jersey Heritage for making such an appropriate gesture for the benefit of all Islanders at this sad time. Sir, I thank you for providing this opportunity to speak and recognise the passing of our Queen, Notre Duc.

The Bailiff:

I am not sure I can claim credit for Mont Orgueil’s access to the public but it is good news that it has happened.

[15:45]

4.7 The Very Reverend M.R. Keirle, B.A., Dean of Jersey:

I fear I may repeat some of the phrases already spoken but this, to my mind, simply underscores the qualities that Her Majesty, our late Queen, embodied. I would like to speak on behalf of the faith communities in the Island in paying tribute. As Supreme Governor of the Church of England and defender of the faith, Her Majesty was a committed Christian and she set an extraordinary example of public service throughout her life in so many memorable ways. She made it her task to be an example of consistency and constancy in a world that is simply unrecognisable from 1952, as the chair of P.P.C. reminded us, when she acceded the throne. She was a monarch who was steadfast and dependable and who brought a sense of continuity and stability to us all. As the Archbishop of Canterbury said, through times of war and hardship, through seasons of upheaval and change, and through moments of joy and celebration, we have been sustained by Her Majesty’s faith in what and who we are called to be. After the sad news of the public announcement yesterday, all of us who are Elizabethans - yes, all of us - will have felt that sense of seismic shift, that the societal building blocks upon which we have built our lives will somehow never quite be the same again. Her Majesty leaves the most extraordinary legacy of faith, selfless service, courage, resilience, duty, her acting abilities with 007 and more recently Paddington Bear, and her sense of humour. The Bishop of London recalls a story where he once asked Her Majesty what style of worship she liked. She said: “I do not mind whether it is high church or low church, what I really appreciate is short church.” Her Majesty will be remembered with great affection by the faith communities of Jersey and we join with many others in expressing our thankfulness to God for her life. May she rest in peace and rise in glory and may God save the King.

4.8 Deputy I. Gardiner of St. Helier North:

I will join my colleagues and I would like to express my condolences of children and young people of this Island. I am deeply saddened by the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. My thoughts are with everyone affected by this very sad news, especially with the royal family. Yesterday morning we saw pictures of her great-grandchildren holding hands with their parents on their first day of starting the new school. Those will have made everyone smile. To then hear only a few hours later that the Queen had died is truly heart-breaking and my heart went out to all of her family. We are entering a period of national mourning. Like all of us, our children may be sad and may find the atmosphere unsettling and certainly quite confusing. Only a few months ago those same children were taking part in lessons across our schools to mark the Platinum Jubilee. Today they face the news that our longest-reigning monarch, who has been present in all our lives, has died. The Education Department and team are offering their support. Today we would like also to remember the whole contribution and extraordinary reign that we know. In all 6 visits that were mentioned previously, Her Majesty always remembered to find time for children and young people. She met children at Grainville, participated at the children’s tea party and in another visit presented Queen’s medals at the Victoria College. She opened Jersey College for Girls; she opened our library. In 2022 some of our schools took also part in the Queen’s green canopy tree-planting initiative, created to mark Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee, which invited people from across the U.K. to plant a tree for the Jubilee. The Youth Service also has an amazing choir that was funded by the Jubilee Fund and our children and young people are enjoying activities thanks to this. Her Majesty’s relationship with the Island and her lasting legacy will live on in those important programmes and services for our young people. My thoughts and condolences are with her family as they mourn the loss of their mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, as well as with Islanders during this sad time. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, you will be greatly missed. May you rest in peace.

4.9 Deputy J. Renouf of St. Brelade:

I stand to express my profound sadness at the death of Her Majesty the Queen and to express my sincere condolences to the royal family on their loss. When you stand for election, people tell you to expect many things and you imagine lots of different scenarios, but it is safe to say that I never expected my first speech after my nomination as Minister would be to pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth, our sovereign and our Duke, and yet in a strange way I should perhaps have been prepared for this moment. When I began my T.V. (television) career on “Newsnight”, one of the stranger rituals into which we were inducted was to be brought into the office at the weekend to rehearse a broadcast following the death of the Queen. I have to say it was a weird business, for suddenly you became aware that all sorts of significant people had given pre-recorded interviews paying tribute to a person who had not yet died as contributions to films that may never be shown. These interviews had of course all been authorised by the palace, and it is just one way in which the life of a monarch is so very different to the life of every one of us. I have only one story to tell about the Queen, but it does perhaps capture something of her importance in our collective lives, and certainly in my life. Five years ago I was catching the train from London to Taplow, a small rural station that was the closest to our then home in Cookham. When I got off the train with a handful of other passengers, we walked out to be confronted with a police cordon. We were not allowed to go on to the road and no explanation was forthcoming from the police officers involved. I guessed it might be that Theresa May, our local M.P. (Member of Parliament) and then also the Prime Minister, was driving by but after about 5 minutes of increasingly restless waiting, a tiny old lady appeared at a side entrance to the station, not much further away from me than I am from you, Sir, and walked slowly towards a waiting Range Rover. “That is the Queen” I said, in a kind of involuntary yelp, with a total lack of dignity. While we had been waiting, the royal train had silently pulled into the station and the Queen had got out. She walked slowly towards the Range Rover and we all stared as she paused to talk to someone before getting in and driving off. Despite years as a news journalist, I am afraid my newshound instincts failed me and I did not take a single photograph, so you will have to take my word for this story, but in a way it is not surprising I did not reach for a phone or a camera phone. It was a genuinely staggering moment and almost, despite myself, I was deeply moved. I mentioned earlier how different the Queen’s life was from that of us, her subjects, but it is striking to me how, despite living a life so dramatically different to that of her subjects, she still managed to capture the public mood with such a deft touch. She was able to find phrases and express thoughts that reflected back to us what we were thinking and feeling, but did so in a way that added to our sense of collective identity. I think, for example, of her invocation of the wartime phrase: “We’ll meet again” as she spoke of the impact of COVID on all of us, that ability to connect the past with the present, which made her such a powerful symbol of continuity and continued relevance. I would like to finish with 2 quotes that I think in different ways reflect on the Queen as a person. In 2008 she opened a new building at the L.S.E. (London School of Economics) in London. The conversation turned to economics and the financial crash that had just happened. “Why” she asked: “had no one seen it coming?” It is a non-political question, of course, scrupulously impartial and yet utterly lethal. You could say it was the demolition of an entire generation of economists. Not a bad trick to pull off as an apolitical head of state. But finally, I think the comment that struck me most was one the Queen made in a Christmas broadcast in the late 1950s, not least because I like to think that perhaps she had the Channel Islands also in her mind when she gave it: “I cannot lead you into battle. I do not give you laws or administer justice, but I can do something else. I can give you my heart and my devotion to these old islands and to all the peoples of our brotherhood of nations.” I pay tribute to a lifetime of self-sacrifice, self-discipline and extraordinary service.

4.10 Deputy L. Stephenson of St. Mary, St. Ouen and St. Peter:

A mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, a cherished sovereign and an inspiration around the world, Queen Elizabeth II meant a lot of different things to a lot of different people and we will all remember her in our unique ways. To touch on just one aspect of this extraordinary woman’s life and commitment, as the Island’s political representative for sport, I would like to pay tribute to Her Majesty as one of the world’s greatest sporting champions. She may not have won Olympic accolades personally, as others in her family have, but she tirelessly championed sport throughout her reign, inspiring all ages and abilities and bringing people together in a way that only she could. Of course horse racing was always her greatest sporting passion, but that is just part of the story and it would take far longer than the 5 minutes I have to list all the very many ways she was involved with sport during her long life, but here are a few. The Queen was committed to the success of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. She was patron of many sporting clubs and associations during her 70 years of service, from rugby, swimming and golf to tennis and cycling. She loved the Highland Games and of course she was dedicated to her Commonwealth, which we saw quite clearly only a few short weeks ago provides not only a sporting stage for elite athletes every 4 years, but a global sporting network of ideas, inspiration and friendship. It is perhaps fitting that her final Commonwealth Games was held on home soil. A great supporter of cricket, the Queen was always vocal of her and her late husband’s enjoyment of the sport. She presented Wimbledon titles, including to British women’s singles champion, Virginia Wade, in her own Silver Jubilee year. Her Majesty attended countless football finals, held a great many receptions celebrating returning U.K. athletes and often recognised the contributions made by sportsmen and women with official honours. In 1966 she famously handed the trophy to Bobby Moore after England won the World Cup final against West Germany at Wembley, and most recently she told England’s female footballers, the Lionesses, following their triumph at Euro 2022, that they would provide an inspiration for women and girls today and for future generations. There are many quotes from Queen Elizabeth II circulating today as we remember the life of this great monarch, but one about sport stands out. “Sport” she said: “has a wonderful way of bringing together people and nations.” Indeed it does, Your Majesty, and so did you. From Jersey’s sporting community and the people of my constituency in St. Mary, St. Ouen and St. Peter, thank you. God save the King.

4.11 Deputy S.G. Luce of Grouville and St. Martin:

Could I add my own heartfelt and deepest condolences at this time of mourning across the Island and country to the royal family? Because as Deputy Stephenson has just said, Her Majesty was a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. It is a short time, just a few days ago now, that we looked so keenly at the photographs of Her Majesty welcoming her new Prime Minister to Balmoral Castle. I thought to myself how frail she had become recently, but how happy and content she looked, with her welcoming smile, clearly delighted to meet the leader of her next Government. How unexpected it was then to hear the news that followed shortly after of her cancelled meetings and early yesterday of the concerns of her health. How desperately sad it was to hear and to receive the news that we all feared was coming of her passing, the passing of our beloved sovereign, Queen Elizabeth II.

[16:00]

As our Queen, Notre Duc, she was our leader in so many ways, but she did not just lead us, she listened to us, she advised and comforted us, she inspired us and encouraged us. We mourned with her, empathised with her and we celebrated with her too. The attributes of her late Majesty are far too many to try to list here, but above all I would single out her sense of duty as something that stood out for me above all else. When she addressed the Commonwealth on the occasion of her 21st birthday, she dedicated and devoted her whole life, be it long or short, into the service of us all. “Service” is the word I will remember, the word I will for ever associate with our late Queen. She never faltered from that dedication she made so many decades ago now. She never failed to be there for us. She was true to her word right to the very end, fulfilling her duty to us all wherever we were until only hours before she left us. Her selfless devotion to the people of her country and Commonwealth is something that I will always remember.

4.12 Connétable D.W. Mezbourian of St. Lawrence:

On behalf of the parishioners of St. Lawrence, I am saddened to extend condolences to His Majesty King Charles III and to members of the royal family on the sad loss of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. It is a privilege to remember with thanks her long life and dedicated service to us all. Hers was indeed a life well-lived. May she rest in peace, as we now say long live the King, Notre Duc.

4.13 Deputy D. Warr of St. Helier South:

It is slightly unusual because I would like to read out a poem, which was spoken by her father, King George VI, at the end of his Christmas broadcast in 1939: “I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year: ‘Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.’ And he replied: ‘Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God. That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way. May that Almighty hand guide and uphold us all.’ So I went forth, and finding the hand of God, trod gladly into the night. He led me towards the hills and the breaking of day in the lone east. So heart be still: what need our human life to know, if God hath comprehension? In all the dizzy strife of things both high and low, God hideth His intentions.” Rest in peace.

4.14 Connétable A.S. Crowcroft of St. Helier:

Can I stand by thanking you for convening this special sitting of the States? I must say that the arrival of the mace in its shroud was particularly shocking and brought home to me very powerfully the solemnity of this occasion. Her Majesty the Queen was the epitome of commitment to public service, inspiring generations of Jersey people to dedicate at least some of their lives to serving their fellow Islanders. The tradition of honorary service in the Parishes is at the heart of what so many individuals do when they take their oaths in the Royal Court to serve in the Honorary Police or to fulfil other parochial roles, and I am sure that the Island’s Honorary Police in particular will have found the passing of Her Majesty especially poignant, as they have committed so many hours to the arrangements for royal visits, not only the visits to Jersey undertaken by her late Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh, but also the other royal visits that we have been privileged to receive. The fact that Her Majesty was fulfilling her own personal oath to serve her people right up until the last days of her life is a further example, if any were needed, of her extraordinarily selfless and generous character. Her Majesty last visited the Island for the 60th anniversary of our liberation on 9th May 2005 and I was honoured to be invited to introduce her to some of my parishioners as well as to the Bürgermeister of Bad Wurzach in Germany and his wife, who were visiting Jersey at that time, following the signing of the twinning agreement with St. Helier in 2002. Friendship and reconciliation between our communities was a particular theme on that Liberation Day, with a moving performance by the Jersey Youth Theatre, and I am sure that this added to Her Majesty’s appreciation of what was to be her final Liberation Day in Jersey. When I was fortunate to meet the late sovereign again in 2012 at the Chelsea Flower Show, it was on the occasion of the St. Helier Parks Department being asked to create a display. It included the holograph portrait Equanimity, to which Deputy Morel has already referred, and when I pointed this out to Her Majesty, she looked quizzically at me and said: “I hope I have got my eyes open” because as some Members will know, some of the portraits that were released showed Her Majesty with her eyes closed. Her Majesty was impressed by the flower displays of our gardeners, but I suspect she had been brought our way more because there was a floral corgi placed on the glass beside our exhibit. Every Islander who has suffered bereavement, especially when their loved one has been of an advanced age, will have realised how inadequate the frequently made comment is that the deceased lived to a ripe old age or had a good innings, for the older one’s relative is, whether it be mother, father, brother, sister or grandparent, the deeper one’s roots will have grown into that relationship and the deeper the sense of loss will be. Therefore, as well as wishing to express my gratitude for her 70 years of absolutely exemplary service, I wanted to express my sense of loss at the passing of the Queen, which I am sure is shared by all of my parishioners and to convey our sincerest condolences to the royal family.

4.15 Deputy A. Howell of St. John, St. Lawrence and Trinity:

I wish to reiterate all that has been said, while sending our deepest condolences to all the royal family. I wish to thank Her Majesty for all that she has done and for the amazing legacy that she leaves behind, for a long life well-lived in the service of others. May she rest in peace and God save the King.

4.16 Deputy H. Jeune of St. John, St. Lawrence and Trinity:

I would like to add to the outpourings of condolences and offer my sincere sympathies to Her Majesty’s children and wider family as they grieve. The Queen has been a constant thread running through all our lives, demonstrating the importance of devoted public service, quiet leadership and a role model for women and girls around the world. She led to serve, carrying out vital duties up until her final moments. She is and will be for always an inspiration to us all. Her Majesty has earned her rest.

4.17 Deputy P.M. Bailhache of St. Clement:

After so many eloquent tributes, Sir, from you, from the Chief Minister and from other Members, there may seem little to add, but I would like to say a few words, both as leader of the Jersey Liberal Conservatives and as one who had the honour to occupy your office during the royal visits of 2001 and 2005. Both visits were truly splendid occasions, when the people of Jersey turned out in their thousands to welcome their sovereign. The late Queen demonstrated all those attributes of dignity, wisdom and serenity which we had come to associate with her. She also had a deep appreciation of Jersey’s special relationship with the Crown, of our attachment to our autonomy and of our constitutional history. In 2005, some suggested that there should be no flummery and that the appropriate toast to the Queen was simply “the Queen.” I declined that advice and proposed a toast to La Reine, Notre Duc and the Queen beamed in appreciation because she understood our history and understood that she was our Queen because William, her ancestor, as Duke of Normandy, had triumphed at the Battle of Hastings. She appreciated the links of kinship and language with our Norman neighbours. In 2011, the then President of the Département de la Manche, President Jean-François Le Grand, came to Jersey for the royal visit and I introduced him to the Queen as our close friend and cousine. Her Majesty chatted for a few moments to him in French and afterwards the Normandy newspapers were absolutely full of it. I think that Jersey received more positive publicity in France from that encounter than at any other time. Republican France loved and admired the Queen, as do we all.

4.18 Deputy P.F.C. Ozouf of St. Saviour:

I rise as a proud resident of St. Saviour, but also the individual discharging this Assembly’s responsibilities as Minister for External Affairs. St. Saviour is the proud place where it is the home of her personal representative, the Lieutenant Governor, and it is of course perhaps for St. Saviour residents regarded as the place where Her Majesty has had an official residence when she has graced us with her visits over the years. I recall the visit of Her Majesty as a boy in 1978 to mark her Silver Jubilee and I still keep the book that all the children and the primary school children, together with my twin sister, were given. I still keep that book today. I was privileged to be presented to Her Majesty as treasurer of the Royal Jersey Agricultural and Horticultural Society in 2001, when she opened the Royal Jersey Showground. On that day, without a wife or children of my own, I was permitted to have my eldest godson with me, a young Frenchman aged 10. He remembered that visit and his encounter with Her Majesty most fondly. In fact, he texted me today and asked me for a photograph because it was so important. Her Majesty gave what is perhaps the most important gift that one can give, which is time, time with so many millions of people on so many occasions around the world. Meeting the Queen was an important part - those of us who have had it - which we will never forget. Her Majesty’s Christmas addresses have been referred to by others and were and are an important part of the celebration of Christmas. In one Christmas address she spoke of the importance of giving. She said the pleasure is in giving and that is what our Queen was about. She gave of her service, she gave of her time. Like many Islanders, I have sung proudly the national anthem. Singing the national anthem is an important and meaningful way in which we express our general loyalty to Her Majesty. It is a confirmation of what Queen Elizabeth meant to us. It is a Christian affirmation, but it is also something which she regards as defender of the faith, but it is also worth saying the importance and respect that she held for other faith groups and communities around the world. The second verse is perhaps particularly special because it is ... and it states the prayer to Her Majesty that she will defend our laws. Queen Elizabeth, in her long reign, was a head of state. Throughout that long reign, however, she never really entered the political debate.

[16:15]

We do not know the conversations she had with her prime ministers, but all that did have them were honoured to have had them and report the immense wisdom that she was able to give. Her Majesty was a diplomat, a colossus on the world stage. I say to visitors unfamiliar with monarchy that she had all of the power, but none of the power, but all of the power. The reason why I say that is she expected democracy to be discharged in that second giving that power. She is the monarch that assents personally - and did through her reign - to our laws. She delegated her power to Parliaments, such as ourselves. She steadfastly, throughout her long reign, upheld the principles of democracy, the rule of law, and in her coronation, as she stated, the fair administration of justice. During her long reign, the countries that initially that she was crowned as Queen have evolved. I was privileged to attend the last C.H.O.G.M. (Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting) that she attended. She placed great importance on the Commonwealth. She believed and meant that the Commonwealth should adapt and change, but she had a striking and important international perspective. She wanted her Commonwealth and made it a place that could foster international co-operation, trade links and unity of the people of 56 countries, spanning many countries and cultures, over 2.5 billion people around the world.

The Bailiff:

I am sorry, Deputy, that is over 5 minutes.

Deputy P.F.C. Ozouf:

May she rest in peace.

4.19 Deputy I.J. Gorst of St. Mary, St. Ouen and St. Peter:

Yesterday I felt as though I had no words, and listening to others and the outpouring of grief, not only in this Assembly but around the world, I feel similarly that I have no suitable words. As Deputy Bailhache said, I am extremely grateful to you, Sir, and to the Chief Minister for encapsulating my feelings and I very much believe the feelings of all Islanders on this extremely sad day. As Deputy Ozouf has just said, for those who have met the late Majesty, it was indeed an honour and an occasion that one never forgets. For many, like myself, one first met Her Majesty as a schoolboy. Sir, the last time I met Her Majesty, I believe I was with you and it was an event celebrating the Magna Carta, and how fitting that was as well, there reminding us of our freedoms and our history. We have heard many personal experiences of those who know and have known Her Majesty better than we. As Minister of Jersey’s Treasury, and I like to think of Her Majesty’s Treasury in Jersey, on behalf of all of that Treasury I send my deepest sympathy to the King and to all the royal family. We swear allegiance to the Crown, but we never think of the Crown as an archaic institution. We have always brought to mind the embodiment of Queen Elizabeth in the swearing of that allegiance, because she did indeed embody modern constitutional monarchy. She gave a human face to our commitment and our devotion and our dedication. Our freedoms in this Island are reliant upon royal charters and warrants and self-determination. In my previous role during all of Brexit, we had to make sense of those historic freedoms that were given to us by monarchs and we seem to be able to make sense of them mostly in the light of Her Majesty and how she served these islands. You gave her, Sir, her full title, Her Majesty Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of her other realms and territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth and Defender of Faith, our beloved and anointed sovereign, and yet she transcended that. Of course she embodies the otherness of monarchy and yet each one of us here and all Islanders and millions around the world feel as though she was a person that we knew and we feel today as though we have lost a mother, a grandmother or a great-grandmother, because she was indeed the mother of this Island and her islands. Former Prime Minister May earlier today said: “She gave an example to us all of faith, of service, of duty, of dignity” and others have said sometimes it is only in death that we realise what we had in life. We feel the ending of an era, and indeed it is. I hope and pray that as a new chapter opens in this Island and in these islands, we will take to heart all that Her Majesty taught us, and Members have ably described all that she taught us by how she served us. I hope that we can come together in our grief, saying we will not forget the example that she set us.

The Bailiff:

I will have to ask you to bring your words to an end, Deputy.

Deputy I.J. Gorst:

Rest in peace. God save the King.

4.20 Connétable K.C. Lewis of St. Saviour:

As Constable of St. Saviour, may I also extend my sincere condolences on behalf of the people of St. Saviour to His Majesty King Charles III? I had not prepared a speech today, but if I may, I would like to relay a story of when I joined this Assembly as a very young Deputy and I was sent to Westminster on a training course to learn more about Scrutiny and Select Committees, et cetera. While in Westminster, I was handed a note by one of the court ushers in all their regalia and it simply said: “Clarence House tonight, 7.30, black tie.” I duly obliged, as it was Commonwealth Day. As I went through security, I then went through the big oak doors and there was a beautiful marble foyer, and I could see as the doors of the ballroom were opened all the heads of states of the Commonwealth were there in all their fine robes. I remember thinking at the time: “This must be a mistake that I am here and they will find out soon enough.” A waiter came across with a tray of drinks and as I was about to take one, an usher took my arm and said: “No, Sir, not you, not you” and I thought: “My goodness, they are on to me.” I was led into a side room and stood in a corner, looked up and down and said: “Yes, excellent, Sir. When Her Majesty takes your hand, you bow from the neck and the address is ‘Your Majesty’, thereafter it is ‘ma’am’. If His Royal Highness, Prince Philip, takes your hand it is: ‘Good evening, Your Royal Highness’, thereafter it is ‘Sir.’ Here they come now, good luck” and I was quite stunned as Her Majesty the Queen came in and shook me by the hand. Her Majesty has this wonderful, wonderful skill of putting someone who is very, very nervous at ease. We spoke for about 3 or 4 minutes and it was absolutely delightful. I remember thinking at the time: “It is a pity my parents are not alive to see this” but then I also thought people of my age who sadly do not have their parents take solace in the fact that Her Majesty the Queen was a mother to us all.

4.21 Connétable P.B. Le Sueur of Trinity:

On this day of national mourning, it is difficult to know what to say when so much has already been said. On behalf of our community, I can only convey our deepest and heartfelt sorrow at the loss of such a gracious and hardworking lady, who during her 70-year reign has given unselfishly so much dedicated service. Her passing will leave a gap in all our lives and we send our heartfelt sympathy to the royal family at this difficult time. May she rest in peace and God save the King.

The Bailiff:

Thank you very much indeed, Connétable. Does any other Member wish to speak? If no other Member wishes to speak, then I close this part of the sitting and I call upon the Chair of P.P.C. to propose future business.

ARRANGEMENT OF PUBLIC BUSINESS FOR FUTURE MEETINGS

5. The Connétable of St. Martin (Chair, Privileges and Procedures Committee):

I met with the Bailiff and Chief Minister earlier this afternoon to discuss arrangements for next week. We agreed that it would be appropriate to defer the States meetings scheduled for next week as a mark of respect to her late Majesty until after the funeral. I know that the president of the Scrutiny and Liaison Committee is also in agreement with this proposal. I understand that the funeral is scheduled for Monday, 19th September, and I would therefore like to propose that the meeting be deferred to start on Tuesday, 20th September, at 9.30 a.m. with the same order of business as was scheduled for next week.

The Bailiff:

Is that seconded? [Seconded] Does any Member wish to speak on the proposition, which is to defer business from next week, in the light of the events of the last 2 days, until Tuesday? I am afraid I cannot recall the date. The 20th, yes.

5.1 Deputy G.P. Southern of St. Helier Central:

That is my holiday gone for this year because I will not be here. I have got 10 days booked away. I have stayed through August and tried to keep things going, but I am now booked on my holiday and I will not be here. I have got 3 amendments coming to business and will find it difficult to present those if I am not here, so no, bad decision. I do not think it is appropriate that we should stop our business. I do not believe that Her Majesty would have wanted us to. She would have said: “No, carry on, please” but as we go, that is the situation.

5.1.1 Deputy M. Tadier of St. Brelade:

I was not intending to speak at this sitting and the speeches that have been made have been entirely appropriate. I was not expecting to have to make a decision today about whether we are sitting next week, but I do not see the rationale by not sitting that it is somehow showing respect. We now have a 3-week cycle and all of our business should be done well in time for the arrangements that we may all wish to view or attend. I think we have been put in an invidious position here and I am not clear why we are not sitting next week. I think we should. It makes more sense to sit next week, get our business done so we can then have a clear window in which to properly reflect and partake in the collective mourning.

5.1.2 Deputy P.F.C. Ozouf:

May I just make the observation that I think that we would be out of step with other Parliaments and nations across the Commonwealth, who it is my understanding are suspending their public business to mourn the loss of our Queen.

The Bailiff:

Does any other Member wish to speak? If no other Member wishes to speak, then I close the debate and call upon the chair of P.P.C. to respond.

5.1.3 The Connétable of St. Martin:

I take on board Deputy Southern and Deputy Tadier’s comments. We would be out of step. Parliament has suspended business next week, so has the Parliament in Edinburgh and Tynwald in the Isle of Man, and Guernsey, who are not sitting next week, have declared that if they were sitting next week they would have postponed, if that makes sense.

[16:30]

We did a discussion with ... I have spoken to the president of the S.L.C. (Scrutiny Liaison Committee), I have spoken to the Chief Minister and I have spoken to the Bailiff and it seems that the majority decision was that we should be in step with the rest of the world and delay. I appreciate that we have got a lot of business to do and I am sorry for Deputy Southern with his holiday plans, but I do feel that we would be totally out of step if we do sit next week. I did take a lot of soundings, so I propose that we still sit on Tuesday, 20th September. I would also like to say that there is a special sitting on Sunday, this Sunday, which you have all been made aware of, which I think is at 12 o’clock, and that is to proclaim the new King.

The Bailiff:

Thank you very much. Very well. Shall I take this on a standing vote? The appel is called for. The vote is on the proposition of the chair of P.P.C. that we do not sit next week, but rather sit on Tuesday, 20th September to conduct the business that would otherwise have been dealt with next week. I ask the Greffier to open the voting and Members to cast their vote. A vote pour is a vote in favour of the proposition of the chair of P.P.C. If Members have had the opportunity of casting their votes, then I ask the Greffier to close the voting. The proposition has been adopted:

POUR: 35	CONTRE: 2	ABSTAIN: 3
Connétable of St. Helier	Deputy G..P. Southern	Connétable of St. Lawrence
Connétable of St. Brelade	Deputy C.D. Curtis	Deputy M. Tadier
Connétable of Trinity		Deputy A.F. Curtis
Connétable of St. Peter
Connétable of St. Martin
Connétable of St. John
Connétable of St. Clement
Connétable of Grouville
Connétable of St. Ouen
Connétable of St. Saviour
Deputy S.G. Luce
Deputy L.M.C. Doublet
Deputy K.F. Morel
Deputy S.M. Ahier
Deputy I. Gardiner
Deputy I.J. Gorst
Deputy K.L. Moore
Deputy S.Y. Mézec
Deputy P.F.C. Ozouf
Deputy P.M. Bailhache
Deputy T.A. Coles
Deputy B.B.S.V.M. Porée
Deputy D.J. Warr
Deputy H.M. Miles
Deputy M.R. Scott
Deputy J. Renouf
Deputy L.V. Feltham
Deputy R.E. Binet
Deputy H.L. Jeune
Deputy A. Howell
Deputy M.R. Ferey
Deputy R.S. Kovacs
Deputy B. Ward
Deputy L.K.F Stephenson
Deputy M.B. Andrews

Accordingly, the States will not sit next week but will sit instead to conduct the same business on Tuesday morning, 20th September. That concludes the business before the Assembly today and accordingly, on this sad day of reflection, we stand adjourned until noon on Sunday for the purposes of dealing with the proclamation of accession.

ADJOURNMENT

[16:32]