Chief Minister survives no confidence vote

Tuesday 20 June 2017

Chief Minister Ian Gorst has survived a vote to oust him from the Island’s top political position.

In an acrimonious day in the States Assembly, Senator Gorst clung on to his role with the support of 34 politicians.

13 voted against him, while there were no abstentions.

Speaking immediately after the vote, Senator Gorst commented: "I thank members for their support today. I know that some of that support has been extremely difficult and I am very grateful for that. Our future is too important for us to carry on in the way that we have been. We must work together to put our Island first."

The vote was brought by Constable Chris Taylor, who persuaded a group of members that the Chief Minister should not keep his role over the U-turn over future hospital funding, the handling of the Jersey Innovation Fund and Senator Ozouf’s controversial ministerial reappointment.

The vote of no confidence in the Chief Minister was rejected. 13 votes pour and 34 votes contre.

— States Assembly (@StatesAssembly) June 20, 2017

While he survived the vote, the speeches of many members served as a strong indictment of the Senator's policies and actions. Criticism ranged from the “Anglicisation” of the Island to States reform, a slow response over escalating university tuition fees and the treatment of public sector workers.

Others praised the Chief Minister’s “hardworking” nature and “integrity”, with Education Minister Rod Bryans drawing a parallel between Senator Gorst and former US President Abraham Lincoln.

However, members across both camps praised the exercise of "democracy" and ability to challenge the Chief Minister's record publicly.

While the Chief Minister's position and that of the Ministers will remain unchanged, the debate threw up a number of concerns over a culture of whispers and rumour within the States Assembly, which Senator Gorst slammed in his closing speech.

"Conversations had behind closed doors, along darkened corridors, shadowy figures with half truths and innuendo, with supposed facts... Every single member of this assembly is bigger and better than that, and it cannot go on," he said.

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