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Previously confidential government emails have captured the tensions and spin surrounding one of the key political decisions of the year.
States members were left in shock when Treasury Minister Senator Alan Maclean made an eleventh hour decision to bin his proposals on how to fund Jersey’s largest ever capital project - the £466m Future Hospital - in an email sent the night before the heavily-delayed debate on the issue was due to take place.
It then emerged in the States that the current Treasury Minister, Senator Alan Maclean, had agreed to withdraw the plans despite still believing they were the best way forward - and despite repeated questioning, he refused to reveal who had first suggested they should be withdrawn.
States sources said that he had been heavily leant on by the Chief Minister after an alternative had been proposed by the former Treasury Minister, Senator Philip Ozouf, which he denies.
Pictured: The Chief Minister allegedly put pressure on the Treasury Minister to say that it was his decision to withdraw the funding plans.
Now dozens of emails released under the Freedom of Information (FOI) law have revealed the spin behind the scenes and pressure to emphasise that it was definitely Senator Maclean’s decision to withdraw the proposals, even though he later said he still supported them.
This was how the Chief Minister instructed a communications official to respond when questioned by Express over who made the final decision. He wrote: “It would be good to say something along those lines, i.e. He made the decision etc.”
A strong desire to stay ‘on message’ also becomes apparent. At 07:33 on the morning of the debate, an anonymous advisor told Senator Gorst that he should respond to States members with “sharp lines” such as:
“My/our sole focus is giving this Island the new hospital it needs and getting the right deal for taxpayers.
“All of us here on Jersey, as patients and taxpayers want the same.
“Both these objectives can be achieved.
“The timetable for work to start can still be met IF....
“But planning is not yet approved and I want to use that time to ensure every funding option is examined and we get the mix between borrowing and capital spend right.
“I don't want us tied to a precise funding plan whilst uncertainties remain and until all the options have been fully explored.
“That includes drawing on funds when the money is actually needed over the project period. Ian. We need to talk about a wider context for this. Let's chat?”
Pictured: The emails show attempts to quash concerns over the hospital funding decisions.
The emails also add further weight to accusations that Senator Maclean was pressured to remove his proposal. Responding to the last-minute U-turn email, having copied in the project’s key Health, Treasury and Ministerial players, Minister Eddie Noel responds:
“Dear all
Apologies but for FOI reasons I am not going to respond as I would like to.
Treasury team, you have done outstanding work and deserve better. Eddie”
States members were forthcoming with their indignation upon reading the email. “Not good enough Alan,” Senator Sarah Ferguson wrote, while Deputy Tracey Vallois simply wrote: “What?”
Constable and Assistant Home Affairs Minister Deirdre Mezbourian expressed concern that the decision had come “very late”, adding that his statement, “will need to convince!”
Senator Maclean replied: “I know and sincere apologies... Not an ideal situation and happy to discuss when I see you.”
At a later States Assembly on Tuesday 6 June, the Chief Minister admitted that a meeting involving a "private individual" had taken place just two working days before the ill-fated debate. Senior States sources later told Express that the individual was financier Peter De Putron – hedge fund specialist and brother-in-law of Andrea Leadsom MP, the former Conservative Minister for Financial Services who ran for party leadership last year - who has connections with Senator Ozouf. That has never been confirmed.
It appears that some of these rumours had begun to circulate to the local media as early as the day after the debate and that there were efforts to quash them. Home Affairs Minister Kristina Moore wrote:
"Goodness me..
I've just been to bbc jersey to talk about The threat level and I was asked (off air) whether there was now private money being offered to solve the hospital funding !! Very strange stories going around.
It has taken a while for me to finish this email because I have just been talking to Alan (again). We agree that we must send out some clear messages as a team, setting dates and expectations. Andrew's [Green, Health Minister ed.] interview reassuring people that the project continues is well timed and a good start.. we need to keep on that front foot."
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