Ex-RAF serviceman and parish volunteer standing for Reform

Tuesday 22 March 2022

A former RAF serviceman and IT specialist, who has spent his retirement volunteering in his parish and for local organisations, will be standing for Reform Jersey in St. Clement in the election.

Ken Addison moved to Jersey in 1975 following a career in the Royal Air Force, going on to become a Computer Programmer in the newly created States of Jersey Computer Services Department, and then spending the rest of his working life in finance and IT.

Since his retirement, Mr Addison has been actively involved in the parish, where he has lived in Pontorson Lane since 1983.

As well as supporting vulnerable islanders through the Parish Support Team, he also founded the St. Clement Environment, Infrastructure and Housing Group, which successfully campaigned to protect green fields in the parish from development.

He has also assisted islanders struggling with debt and poverty with budget management via Christians Against Poverty, and supported residents of the Little Sisters of the Poor with his therapy-trained dog, Milo. 

Pictured: Ken Addison with his dog, Milo, who acted as a 'Pets as Therapy' dog for the residents of Little Sisters of the Poor.

Mr Addison said his key concerns for the parish and wider island revolved around housing, the environment, the cost of living and population.

He said the “interwoven” issues of housing and population must be addressed “as a matter of urgency”, describing the current Government’s approach as “disappointing.”

The solution, Mr Addison said, lies in reducing “net migration levels into the island and take a much stricter approach in issuing licences/permits for people to move here when there are alternatives to use locally based talent first.” 

“This will provide a greater incentive to provide training and career development for people already working here, improve the terms and conditions for those in traditionally low paid sectors and increase tax revenues. It will also help take some heat out of the housing market,” he explained.

Mr Addison also says he wants to see the island embrace green energy.

“Jersey has one of the highest tidal resources of anywhere in the British Isles. Using this energy, I believe Jersey could provide all of the electricity needed and be able to export the remaining energy giving independence of supply and a potential income.”

Leader of Reform Jersey, Senator Sam Mézec, said Mr Addison’s “dedication to his local community is beyond doubt and his professional background will ensure he is an effective States Member from day one.” 

Jersey's general election will be taking place on 22 June 2022.