Women in the States Assembly

Just over 100 years ago (April 1924) British women aged 30 and over, were officially allowed to stand for election as a Deputy in the States Assembly. However, while the story of the road to election as a Deputy for women has been well-recorded, it isn’t the only role in the States Assembly. For those who wanted to lead their Parish, 1924 represented a move in the right direction but there was still a very long way to go.

The road to our first female Deputy

Caroline Trachy headed the campaign to allow women to stand as a Deputy, and had herself stood in 1922, only to be disqualified on the grounds of her gender.

While some women may have been able to stand in 1924, unfortunately it was not possible for all women, including Caroline, as the Married Women’s Property Act wasn’t brought in until 1925. Up until this time, women’s property was their husband’s which meant married women, were not eligible to stand for election under the nomination rules. Caroline  tried to stand again in the 1925 elections, but was disqualified due to a legal technicality – the new Property Act didn’t cover her marriage because she’d been married before 1925.

Undeterred, Caroline stood for election again in 1928, but unfortunately didn’t secure enough votes to be elected. It wasn’t until Ivy Forster stood in 1948 that Jersey finally got its first female politician.

Jersey gets its first female Senator

Gwyneth Huelin became the Island’s first female Senator in 1966, (the role was introduced in 1948). She had a big impact, overseeing a massive modernisation project at the General Hospital, as well as a transformation of the St. Saviour hospital facilities. A wing of the General Hospital is named in her honour.

The oldest States Assembly role was the last to see a female elected

The oldest, still-existing elected role in the States Assembly, is that of Connétable (also known as Constable). The 1924 law did not specifically stipulate that women could or couldn’t stand as heads of their Parish, but  male candidates continued to dominate the parishes for many more decades. This  wasn’t down to a legal issue but our customary traditions and expectations. It simply wasn’t ‘expected’ that women would become a Connétable.

By 1957, sex discrimination laws meant that a woman could become a Jurat (a judicial role in the Royal Court) and that they could hold any civic or civil positions. Yet it wasn’t until 2008 that it was written in law that women had equal rights to stand for the role of Constable.

Iris Le Feuvre was the first woman to be elected to the role in 1984, when she became the Constable of St. Lawrence, serving her Parish until 2000. To this day – in 2025 – there has only been six female Constables in the entire history of the States Assembly.

Female Constables today

Today there is nothing to stop women from standing for election to be Head of their Parish and yet it is still a rarity. Connétable Karen Shenton-Stone is one of the two current female Constables, and she is keen to encourage others to step forward for election:

‘As Constable and civic head of my parish, I oversee a budget of roughly £1 million that requires absolute accountability to Parishioners to efficiently deliver a range of municipal services, including licences and permits; as well as projects such as the village green playground and securing Government of Jersey funding to establish the La Vielle École development that has been transformative for St. Martin.

‘It is also an exceptional privilege to preside over municipal functions, including the Rates Assessors, Roads Committee, and work alongside the Honorary Police and Procureurs to guarantee a safe, happy and well-resourced community. The work of the Constable and the parish system is of vital importance if we want to maintain the high standards of living and community that Jersey is known for. Likewise, serving as Constable of St. Martin has provided me with insights that I have been able to raise in the States Assembly and resolve to the benefit of both my parish and the whole island.

‘Although I am the first woman to hold the role in St. Martin, I certainly do not intend to be the last. I would encourage any woman who is interested in the Parish system to get involved in their municipality and see not just how rewarding it can be, but what a difference you can make.’

 

With Jersey’s next election set for Sunday 7 June, now is the time to start preparations if you are thinking about standing for any role.

You can sign up to the vote.je newsletter and visit the website which is full of useful information and advice for prospective candidates.

Jersey’s roll of female Connétables

Iris Le Feuvre: St. Lawrence 1984-2000

Enid Quenault: St. Brelade 1987-2000

Juliette Gallichan: St. Mary 2008-2018

Sadie Le Sueur-Rennard: St. Saviour 2011-2022

Deidre Mezbourian: St. Lawrence 2008-present

Karen Shenton-Stone: St. Martin 2018-present

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