It really should come as little surprise to learn that
‘Sir’ Philip Bailhache has awoken from his political slumber following the
debacle of his sabotaging of the reform referendum to now try to do the same
with the latest moves to put an end to the non-ECHR compliant anachronism of
the role of Bailiff. Bailhache’s whole career after all – through both his time
as Attorney General, Bailiff and now as a Senator has, in my opinion, been marked
by his utter contempt for justice and democracy.
Like his brother William his name is now synonymous to
an ever-creasing number of people with child protection failures and the
application of ‘law’ only according to who a person is. Indeed, at a time when
generations of Establishment cronyism and corruption to ensure our Island was
run as a private club to benefit the rich and powerful at the expense of the
wider community is finally in sight of its Endgame simply due to the Party
having run out of credible ‘big hitters’ to run the show Bailhache is the last
desperate throw of the dice as I observed back in 2011.
Yes the political Left has failed over these long
years to put aside what have generally been inconsequential differences of political
priority to put together a strategy to outflank the endemic corruption of the
‘Jersey Way’. Just as the wider community who have become second class citizens
under the ‘Jersey Way’ and its appeasement of Finance at all costs have failed
to rise above the culture of fear; the apathy of moans and non-political
participation to do the same.
Yet the reality is the Establishment Party is
finally facing its first glimpses of its nemesis because of things even its
corruption and bullying cannot control: time and the reality that in a
shrinking media world the anachronisms which have helped maintain its power can
no longer be talked away with smarm and a dry sherry.
So now we see The Man Who Would Be King – surely King
Philip the First and Last - desperately tilting at windmills to sustain the
‘Jersey Way’ and all it allows a little longer by attempting to defend the
indefensible position of the Bailiff. A role let us not forget that has
absolutely no mandate from the public. A role that allows an unelected judge to
control what those who have faced and won election to the States Chamber
via the public can say or put forward as policy proposals.
Hells bells - a role that allows these unelected judges
– and as the recent past as shown us so dramatically not even ones who uphold
justice for all as per their Oath – to strut about in ridiculous red cloak and gilded bog chains as the Island’s ‘First Citizen’ assuming the
position afforded some kind of President!
And yet Philip Bailhache wants to keep the anachronism
in place. Of course his aforesaid brother, William has already been announced as the next Bailiff - even before the vote set for later this month! But the key reasons why really do not any longer even need to be spelt out.
Its removal will be the final cutting away of the critical first leg of the
three-legged Establishment Party stool upon which the fat, bloated backside of
the ‘Jersey Way’ squats. Once gone the final and long-overdue fall to earth will
follow as inevitably as night-time follows day.
Yet to distract from this Philip Bailhache instead waffles
via the State media about the importance of maintaining ‘tradition’! Really,
Sir Philip? Leaking through the heady aroma of a nice Chateau-Neuf-du-Pape in
the luxury of the Atlantic Hotel perhaps do not even you detect just the faintest whiff of sickening
hypocrisy in the air? Perhaps then I should give you a little clue: Jersey's link to the Diocese
of Winchester. Wasn’t that built around 500 years of ‘tradition’ – yet you threw it away
without a thought in your desperation to dodge the holding to account of yet
another member of the Establishment Party – the Dean - who had also failed to
act on abuse.
Really, Sir Philip have you learnt nothing in your
overbearing arrogance since as Attorney General you allowed the convicted
paedophile Roger Holland to remain in the Honorary Police setting in motion a
reign of abuse on young girls?
Have you learnt nothing since - as Bailiff - you illegally banned an elected Member of the States, former Senator Stuart Syvret from taking up his seat in the States for six months?
Have you learnt nothing since as Bailiff and Chairman
of Victoria College you happily allowed a Vice-Principle – John Lyndon Le
Breton - with a proven history of disregarding evidence against yet another predatory paedophile, Andrew Jervis-Dykes to be rewarded with a job as a Jurat
‘administering justice’ in your own Royal Court?
Indeed, have you learnt nothing since your grotesque and
disgusting Liberation Day speech where you claimed global media reporting was
the ‘real scandal’ above the appalling suffering of the victims of Haut de la
Garenne which your generation of power holders had allowed to come about?
No, Sir Philip, quite clearly you have not. Or perhaps
the truth is that you simply revel in all of this because all that matters is trying to prop
up the ‘Jersey Way’ and ensure the Establishment Party hangs on to power a few
more years no matter what? Either way the bottom line is that although I believe
the craven deference afforded you by so many of the poodles currently passing
themselves off as politicians will ensure you win the vote on the Constable of
St. Helier’s re-working of Shona Pitman’s proposition to replace the Bailiff ultimately you will fail.
Indeed, if I may paraphrase a favourite rock song
‘This isn’t the end – but at least we can see it from here’. Justice eventually comes to
all. Even in the tiny Neo-Feudal State of Establishment Jersey. Sleep well…
Keep the Faith
