Comment: Could Reform Jersey hold all the cards in Chief Minister debate?

Friday 01 June 2018

With just days to go until States Members make their decision on who should become the island's most senior politician, wannabe Chief Ministers John Le Fondré and Ian Gorst, the incumbent, are vying for their colleagues' support.

During their previous political runs, neither candidate always saw eye-to-eye with a certain trio of politicians, but that dynamic could soon be about to change. The Reform Jersey party now has five States Members - five votes that could, potentially, make all the difference in securing that top spot.

Express columnist Andy Jehan muses why the group that some might dared to have not taken seriously in the past could now be holding all the cards...

"So the ballot papers are counted, the winners and losers are coming to terms with their results. Sadly less than half of the electorate took the opportunity to cast their vote in our General Election, despite the best efforts of the candidates and the local media. 

What impressed me most was the contribution to the election made by the team behind vote.je. Their promotion of information about the candidates, where and when to vote was first class. My one observation was that whilst the filming of the Hustings was excellent, I and others like me, would have appreciated some live streaming of these events, I hope this is considered for 2022.

So the public have done their bit and now it's over to the new States to elect the Chief Minister and whilst one potential candidate decided to pull out ahead of the debate, we are sure to have a contest and from what I can gather a close one at that. Prior to the St Helier declaration on election night, some commentators, wrongfully, considered Reform's Sam Mezac to be the "Joker" in the pack, now just two weeks later, our youngest Senator isn't the Joker - in fact, he and his four colleagues probably hold all the Aces. If people hadn't taken Reform seriously before they will have to now.

We thank both Senator Gorst and Senator Le Fondre for their openness in discussions over recent days as we determine as a party if we are able to support either candidate in their efforts to form a government. Our support will be based on shared policy objectives.

— Reform Jersey (@ReformJersey) May 30, 2018

We have two professional men - sadly no women, but that can't be far away - who are allowing their names to go forward. Both are experienced politically, albeit they have different experiences to draw from and the States has real choice, something it was denied in 2014.

I have written previously about the proposed changes to the Civil Service and how this is needed. Whoever is elected surely has to back this and not backtrack? The electorate turned down the opportunity for major change at the ballot box, returning all the Ministers and Assistant Ministers who stood, some may say surprisingly, but we should well remember that the Islands success has been built on stability. 

With the amount of new members and members changing office, We will see change and we need to see change. This was recognised late in the last term with the removal of collective responsibility, as it was clear to most that it hadn't worked. 

We need good robust debate, most importantly we also need the strongest team possible to take the Island through the uncertainty of Brexit, with its challenges and opportunities, probably in equal measure. The challenge from the UK Government and others to our main industry is sure to continue and needs robust defence.

Pictured: It is vital that the new Council of Ministers is robust enough to take on Brexit, Andy Jehan says.

It's been suggested, in some quarters, that it may be best to abstain from voting for the Chief Minister so as not to upset either candidate. This in my view would be the worst thing members could do. I hope members attend the sitting with open minds, ask detailed questions and probe both candidates on their views, their track record and above all their vision for Jersey. Abstaining from such an important vote would in my view be a dereliction of duty. 

Once the Chief Minister has been elected, the Assembly moves on a couple of days later to fill the other Ministerial posts. Again all we can hope for is that members judge their colleagues on their merits and select the best people for each of the jobs. 

To the new members especially, I hope they ignore the keyboard warriors on social media (from both sides of the argument) and vote for the person who they feel is best equipped to take Jersey forward for the next four years and on this occasion may the best man win."

The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and not those of Bailiwick Express.