A minister has urged caution over new transparency measures, reminding the House of Keys that government members are bound by collective responsibility.
The House of Keys unanimously backed plans to record all electronic votes on divisions, making members’ voting records publicly searchable.
But Jane Poole-Wilson, Minister for Justice and Home Affairs, raised concerns about how the public might interpret the new system.
Speaking during the debate, she said: “In terms of your transparency as a member and the motions you bring and questions you ask, if you are a minister, you are reasonably silent in that regard, in as much as you have your debate within the council of ministers and you register your view and whether or not you support a matter, but once it is supported by government, you are then bound by collective responsibility.”
She noted there are “some exceptions to that in the government code”.
Mrs Poole-Wilson suggested that additional context should accompany the online voting records.
“I do wonder, in the spirit of transparency, which I fully support, whether some preamble, some narrative around what appears on our website is helpful for members of the public to understand that it’s not a lack of interest or engagement,” she said.
The motion to introduce recorded electronic votes passed with 22 votes in favour and none against, with further detail to be considered by the Standing Orders Committee.