It’s Gorst!

Friday 24 October 2014

Chief Minister Ian Gorst has become the first person to hold on the top job in Jersey politics for a second term after no one stepped forward to challenge the poll-topping Senator to lead the Council of Ministers for the next three and a half years.

The only rumoured challenger, Senator Alan Maclean, took a late decision this afternoon not to run for the job – he says that he will be Senator Gorst’s nominee for the influential role of Treasury Minister when ministerial elections take place in ten days’ time.

That announcement means Senator Philip Ozouf is likely to be looking for a new role - he is known to have had his eye on the International Relations job, but that job is currently held by former Bailiff Sir Philip Bailhache, who has shown no sign of wanting to move on.

The news that he has won a second term as Chief Minister caps a remarkable ten days for Senator Gorst – the likable Lancastrian has achieved several “firsts” in the last few days: the first Chief Minister to stand again, the first sitting States Member to top the Senatorial poll since 2005, the first Chief Minister to win a second term, and the first Chief Minister to win the job unopposed.

He will now move on to the challenge of forming a new Council of Ministers, and having to find some new faces - the Home Affairs, Education and Social Security ministers have all stepped down from the States, and the Environment Minister lost his seat in the election.

As Chief Minister, he will have more powers over the next three-and-a-half year term – the States have agreed that the Chief Minister should have the power to sack a failing minister, and should be able to force the Council of Ministers to stick to a party line.

Senator Gorst's nomination paper for the role of Chief Minister was signed by Senator-elect Andrew Green (who is rumoured to be the nominee for Health Minister and possibly Deputy Chief Minister, Senator Paul Routier, Senator Maclean, St Mary Constable Juliette Gallichan, St Lawrence Constable Deidre Mezbourian, and Deputies Eddie Noel and Steve Luce.