Reform Jersey elects new Chair

Thursday 18 August 2022

An islander who missed out on a seat in the States Assembly by just 51 votes has been elected Chair of the island's largest political party.

Helen Evans was elected as Party Chairperson at the Reform Jersey Annual General Meeting held at the Town Hall last week.

She succeeds former Chairperson Lyndsay Feltham, who stepped down from the role following her election as Deputy for St. Helier Central in the June election as party rules require the role to be held by someone who is not a States Member.

Deputy Sam Mézec was also re-elected as Reform Jersey Party Leader at the meeting.

Pictured: Newly elected Party Chairperson, Helen Evans.

Deputy Sam Mézec said: “I am delighted that Helen has been elected as our new party Chairperson. We are growing as an organisation, so having someone with Helen’s expertise and ability in this position is very important.

“She showed through her election campaign that she has a deep understanding of the political issues facing Jersey, and an ability to connect with people who previously may not have voted for Reform Jersey. I am looking forward to working with her.”

Helen missed out on a seat in the States Assembly in the closely contested constituency of St Mary, St Ouen and St Peter with 1050 votes.

Kristina Moore, Lucy Stephenson, Ian Gorst, and Lyndon Farnham were the elected deputies of this constituency with 2,730, 2,239, 2,208, and 1,101 votes respectively.

Helen Evans said: “I stood in the June 2022 Election as Reform Jersey’s Candidate for Deputy of St Mary, St Ouen and St Peter and, having not been elected, am keen to continue to contribute to the work of the party so, when I was approached to ask if I would consider standing as Chair I agreed to do so.

“I look forward to working with the Parliamentary Party and the wider party membership to ensure we continue to exert a positive influence on policy formation, helping to bring about a fairer and more equal society.”

Pictured: Reform Jersey's elected States Members, who make up the Parliamentary Party.

The AGM also saw new members elected to the party Management Committee, which oversees the day-to-day affairs of the organisation and seeks to hold Reform Jersey’s States Members to account. 

Following the AGM, Reform Youth, the Party’s youth wing, met and elected Indi Henstridge as its President. 

Indi said: “I feel incredibly privileged to be elected as President of Reform Youth. I cannot wait to be working alongside Reform’s excellent Management Committee and Parliamentary Party.  

“Representing the voice of young islanders, for me, has always been a strength of Reform Jersey and I hope to take the relationship to new heights by working with our members to make Jersey an exciting and prosperous place.”

Outgoing Party Chairperson, Deputy Lyndsay Feltham, said: “It has been an absolute privilege to serve as Chair. I have absolute confidence that Helen has the right combination of skills and values to take the Party forward as we continue to grow. 

“I look forward to working with Helen, Sam, Indi and the Management Committee in my new role as a member of the Parliamentary Party.”