Date set for Senatorial by-election

Friday 15 July 2016

Jersey's Royal Court has set a date for the by-election following the shock resignation of Senator Zoe Cameron earlier this week.

Senator Cameron stepped down with a stinging statement criticising the Council of Ministers for failing to listen, being inaccessible and of being too concerned with "reputation and compensation payouts." While accepting she had failed to keep her promises to voters she also said she felt fortunate to have flagged-up concerns for patient safety in the health service and escaped "with my career and sanity intact."

Islanders will go to the polls on Wednesday, 7th September. As it is a Senatorial election, voting will be island-wide, with polling booths in every parish. 

Earlier today, Reform Jersey confirmed they would try and gain their first Senator, and have called a party meeting for the 26th July to decide who they will put forward:  

"Reform Jersey wishes Dr Cameron all the best and we are sad that she did not feel she was able to make a positive impact based on the mandate she received at the last election. We share many of the criticisms she made of the Council of Ministers upon her resignation and we are disappointed that Senator Gorst has brushed aside her comments with no thought, especially as this comes just days after his government has dismissed the criticisms made of them by the States Complaints Board following the Dr Alwitry case.

"Despite having kept these plans hidden from the electorate during the last election, the Council of Ministers is pursuing an agenda of savage cuts to our public services and increasing taxes on middle Jersey.

"We feel strongly that ordinary people in our Island need a voice on the Senatorial benches in the form of somebody who is prepared to stand up to the Council of Minister's plans and provide a progressive alternative."

Two other candidates have so far thrown their hats into the ring: former Senator Sarah Ferguson will look to regain her seat which she narrowly lost in 2014. And former Deputy Guy de Faye is also looking for a way back into the States Assembly.