Deputies Scott Wickenden and Hugh Raymond faced losing their seats in the Assembly if they were convicted of failing to return their election expenses form within 15 working days. Failed election candidate Bernie Manning was also charged with the same offence.

There was no suggestion that the three had spent more on their campaign than allowed.

However, it has since emerged that 28 candidates – 13 of whom were subsequently elected – failed to meet the deadline. Additionally, a further 17 candidates – five of whom were elected – delivered a declaration within the deadline that was not compliant with the law.

Under Article 6 of the election law, all candidates have 15 working days after an election to declare their election expenses.

Attorney General Robert MacRae has dropped the case, saying it 'would not be right to single out these three individuals in circumstances where so many candidates appear to have failed to comply with the provisions of Article 6'.

Deputies Wickenden and Raymond and Mr Manning appeared at the Magistrate's Court last week to plead not guilty to the charges. The trial dates will now be vacated.

Setting out his reasons for dropping the case, Mr MacRae said: 'Accordingly, one way or another it is possible that up to forty-five candidates, eighteen of whom were elected, have committed an election offence under Article 6.

'Those elected unopposed did not need to comply with Article 6. Of those candidates who won a contested election, seventeen persons succeeded in complying with the law.

'It is to be noted, and I emphasise, that in none of these cases is there any evidence of a breach of the spending limits imposed by the law.

'In these circumstances, and bearing in mind the consequences to good government of investigating and prosecuting these alleged offences, it is not in my view in the public interest to proceed against all these individuals. The States and Government of Jersey would be significantly impaired at an important time for the Island.'