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The former Bailiff and leader of the Jersey Liberal Conservatives has confirmed he will be running for election in St. Clement – the same district as the leader of the Jersey Alliance.
Both Sir Philip Bailhache (JLC) and Sir Mark Boleat (Alliance) have expressed their desire to hold the island’s top political position.
Having started his political career as a Deputy of Grouville in 1972, there had been speculation over whether Sir Philip would stand in the St. Martin and Grouville district.
However, Sir Philip, who was born and brought up in the parish, confirmed this morning: "I am standing in St. Clement both because of my long-standing connections with the parish and because it will enable parishioners to vote for a candidate of the coalition between the Jersey Liberal Conservatives and the Progress Party," he explained.
Sir Philip resigned as Deputy of Grouville when he was appointed HM Solicitor General in 1975 and, nine years later, Attorney General. In 1995, he became the island's Bailiff, holding the position until 2009.
A strong advocate for Jersey's constitutional autonomy, Sir Philip was elected as a Senator in 2011 and in 2013 became the island's first ever Minister for External Relations.
He stepped away from the public eye in 2018, but last year founded the Jersey Liberal Conservatives movement, which is focused around ensuring greater "political accountability". It officially became a party in January 2022.
Last month, the JLC signed a coalition agreement with the Progress Party, which included a pledge to back Sir Philip as candidate for Chief Minister.
Pictured: JLC Leader Sir Philip and Progress Party Leader Senator Steve Pallett after signing the coalition agreement.
Standing in St. Clement will see him compete for one of four Deputy positions with another party leader and Chief Ministerial hopeful: Jersey Alliance's Sir Mark Boleat.
Sir Mark, who was also born and raised in the parish, recently returned to Jersey following a career in the City of London. During that time, he also produced a number of policy papers for the States of Jersey.
Meanwhile, current Chief Minister and Jersey Alliance member Senator John Le Fondré has confirmed he would like to be a Minister in the next Government, while former Chief Minister and current External Relations Minister Senator Ian Gorst recently told Express's Politics Disassembled Podcast said he feels he has more work to do in his current role.
The JLC-Progress coalition also included a commitment to produce a shared manifesto.
Sir Philip said: "Our Coalition manifesto will be published next week.
"I think it is an exciting document with many fresh ideas and we look forward to hearing the public's reaction to it."
Hustings will be taking place in the weeks leading up to Election Day on 22 June.
Pictured top: Sir Mark Boleat (Alliance) and Sir Philip Bailhache (JLC), who will both be standing in St. Clement.
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If a candidate can pick and choose the constituency they wish to represent on a tenuous link, how come voters on the border of St clement, or those that pass through the parish regularly or have any other interest in the parish that is not residential not apply the same logic?
Utterly ridiculous
On an island 9x5 with one administration running the place why on earth do we need 12 constituencies! The only thing ludicrous is we have 49 members thats more than 1 for every sq mile!