Did you know that there are five positions within the States Assembly that are not held by an elected Member?

Perhaps the most active, and visible, of these non-elected Members is the Bailiff and that isn’t just because the post holder wears a bright red robe.

In this episode of the States Assembly Podcast, we take a closer look at the origins of the office and how it relates to the work of the States Assembly with Jersey's new Bailiff, Robert MacRae, who was sworn into the role in October 2025.

We also discover more about a rather Royal artefact the office is responsible for.

Host: Sarah Hopkins

Interviewee: Robert MacRae

Get in touch with us if you have some feedback about the show, or if you want to suggest a topic for a future episode. Email statesgreffe@gov.je

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Let's explore the vibrant heart of Jersey's democracy.

This is the first in a limited series of episodes where Vote.je - Jersey's Official Election Guide - is taking over the States Assembly Podcast.

Get an introduction to Jersey elections, hear about the education initiatives which are already teaching our students what they need to know to get political, and find out what sorts of things Jersey's children and young people value the most when it comes to making political decisions.

Recorded in collaboration with the Youth Advisory Group from the Office of the Children's Commissioner for Jersey to mark World Children's Day 2025.

Host: Cathy Keir

Interviewees: Lisa Hart; Molly Gladwin

Special guests: Theo and Jack from the Youth Advisory Group from the Office of the Children's Commissioner for Jersey.

Music credit: QubeSounds - Hip Hop Rock Beats_Chime

Get in touch with us if you have some feedback about the show, or if you want to suggest a topic for a future episode. Email statesgreffe@gov.je

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Democracy can be thought of as ‘power of the people’ – a way of governing which depends on the will of people – and our democratic rights are the freedoms we’re granted to express our opinions, participate in public matters and vote at election time.

This episode takes a closer look at some of the real-life stories which demonstrate how people in Jersey have exercised their rights and used their power to make a change.

From swinging into action to save a beloved local park, to creating a human chain across an iconic Island beauty spot, or pushing the power of a petition, these stories celebrate Islanders’ engagement with Jersey’s political system and prove how public action can lead to change and give everyone a voice to make a difference.

Host: Sarah Hopkins

Interviewees: Mike Stentiford MBE, Athena Elliot, Kat de la Mare, Neil Renouf and John Cronin, Emelita Robbins, Poppy Pendergast.

Get in touch with us if you have some feedback about the show, or if you want to suggest a topic for a future episode. Email statesgreffe@gov.je

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This episode lifts the lid on how the States Assembly functioned during the Second World War. When Jersey was occupied by German forces there was still a need for legislation to be made and passed and there were many challenges that needed to be tackled to ensure that Islanders had work, clothing and food during the Occupation.

How did this all happen? And who were the States Members during the Occupation years? We take a look a some of the stories from those times, involving hidden radios, retired millers, and why there's a footpath along the Five Mile Road in St. Ouen and why took such a long time to be built.

Host: Sarah Hopkins

Interviewee: Dominic Butler

Voice of Ralph Mollet: Yannick Fillieul

Get in touch with us if you have some feedback about the show, or if you want to suggest a topic for a future episode. Email statesgreffe@gov.je

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Every three weeks, Jersey’s States Members take their seats in the States Chamber to debate policy proposals and approve the laws that govern the Island.

And usually, the only way you would get to experience what that is like is to stand for election when the time comes and convince the electorate you’re the right person for the job.

But to celebrate Jersey’s fifth Democracy Week, the States Greffe gave Islanders the chance to take part in a real-life debate.

In this episode, we look back at Jersey’s first People’s Debate with some of those who were involved with it, to discover what they made of the experience and if it achieved what it set out to do.

Host: Sarah Hopkins
Interviewees: Jenny O’ Brien, Peter Langlois, Evan Smith and Jon Tarrant

Watch the People's Debate in full on YouTube.

Get in touch with us if you have some feedback about the show, or if you want to suggest a topic for a future episode. Email statesgreffe@gov.je

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Questions are one of the tools that Jersey's States Members have available to them to understand why and how the Government is doing what it's doing.

• Want to get to grips with a Minister's priorities? Ask a question.
• Want to know how much money is being spent on something? Ask a question.
• Want to understand how long it will take to deliver a new initiative or service? Ask a question.

Questions come in different forms, and depending on who you are and where you're asking them - the answers can come in different forms too.

In this episode we have Deputy Greffier Will Millow and Assistant Greffier Yan Fillieul serving up the essentials of political questions. We cover the various types of questions that can be asked at a States Meeting and branch out into how questions are used by Scrutiny Panels, as well as other situations where the Island's politicians might ask - or be asked - a question.

Episode host: Emily Thomas
Interviewees: William Millow; Yannick Fillieul.

Get in touch with us if you have some feedback about the show, or if you want to suggest a topic for a future episode. Email statesgreffe@gov.je

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Who are the people who make our laws, set our taxes, decide how Jersey should be run? And what do they all do?

Jersey politics features a whole host of different roles that could be unfamiliar to you. There are: Constables (a.k.a. Connétables); Deputies; the Bailiff; the Greffier of the States; the Attorney General and Solicitor General; and more!

In this episode Lisa Hart and Will Millow help to unpack all the details about the people that work together to keep the wheels of Jersey's democracy turning. Listen to this episode and you will find out answers to the following questions:

• What's the difference between a Deputy and a Constable?
• Why does the Bailiff sit on a chair higher than everyone else's in the States Chamber?
• What's the best job in Jersey that you've never heard of!?

Episode guests:
Lisa Hart - Greffier of the States
Will Millow - Deputy Greffier of the States

Episode host: Emily Thomas

Get in touch with us if you have some feedback about the show, or if you want to suggest a topic for a future episode. Email statesgreffe@gov.je

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Following on from our previous episode 'Jersey Scrutiny 101', we finish off the interview with Andy and Will and cover how Jersey isn't on its own in doing parliamentary scrutiny, what it takes to be an effective scrutineer and discover what it is that makes the Island's Public Accounts Committee the envy of other jurisdictions.

Interviewees: Andy Harris; Will Millow
Episode host: Emily Thomas

Get in touch with us if you have some feedback about the show, or if you want to suggest a topic for a future episode. Email statesgreffe@gov.je

If you liked what you heard, please give us a star rating, add your review and subscribe!

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