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Reform Jersey are remaining tight-lipped on whether their 10 members will be backing the Chief Minister – or voting to throw her out next week.
The party's deputy leader revealed that members met with Deputy Tom Binet, the would-be challenger for the position of Chief Minister, on Thursday.
This was after their meeting with Chief Minister Kristina Moore on Tuesday morning to "seek assurances" about how she will work with them "to change the direction of travel of the current government", according to their letter sent after former Infrastructure Minister Binet lodged a motion of no-confidence.
The party's deputy leader Lyndsay Feltham yesterday told Express that they were not planning on making any announcement ahead of the vote on Tuesday.
Pictured: Reform Jersey's Deputy Leader Lyndsay Feltham.
She also revealed that the party had met with Deputy Binet on Thursday, saying: "We are in ongoing discussions, listening to what everyone has to say".
Islanders have speculated on social media as to whether Reform could be looking to secure some ministerial seats or make an agreement in their manifesto's interests with either Deputy Binet or Deputy Moore.
It's not the first time Reform have sought to strike a Chief Ministerial deal.
Following discussions and negotiations with Senator John Le Fondré in 2018, Reform Jersey's members committed to supporting him as candidate for Chief Minister.
Their agreement – which was published online by Reform Jersey after the new Chief Minister was chosen – included a deal to review the tax and social security contributions systems, upping the minimum wage towards £10 per hour and re-opening negotiations on workforce modernisation.
It also stated that Reform Jersey members would not be required to vote with the Council of Ministers if policy proposals went against their manifesto.
However, Kristina Moore recently signalled that she was less than open to taking on board any of the party's manifesto points.
In a letter, she noted that Reform politicians put forward a number of amendments to the most recent Government spending plans in line with their manifesto commitments, but that "most of these were rejected by the Assembly".
She said that the Government already has a "clear programme" to deliver their own policies. While Deputy Moore said she was "open to working together constructively with all States Members", she emphasised that this would not involve "simply agreeing to implement the manifesto of any one individual or political party".
With 10 States Members representing Reform Jersey and their 'New Deal' manifesto in the Assembly, the political party holds significant voting power within the 49 total elected members.
Three individuals signed Tom Binet's no-confidence proposal: former Assistant Health Minister Deputy Rose Binet, and Deputies Mary Le Hegarat and Andy Howell.
Pictured: Three Deputies signed Tom Binet's no-confidence motion.
Ministers have since then jumped at the chance to back Deputy Moore and her team. While some States Members have expressed frustrations in Kristina Moore's leadership, they have suggested that they cannot see a credible alternative.
Constable Mike Jackson, meanwhile, has been looking to his parishioners for guidance.
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Express recently spoke to Tom Binet for the Politics Disassembled podcast, why he was seeking to oust the Chief Minister – listen below or wherever you get your podcasts...
EXPLAINED: What role could Reform have in the vote of no confidence?
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