Back on the Ballot: Who’s standing for Senator?

The islandwide vote returns this year as Senators make a comeback to Jersey’s electoral system, three years after the role was abolished.

The change narrowly passed following a marathon 13-hour States debate last year, securing the minimum support required to overhaul the system.

Nine Senatorial seats will now be contested, with the number of Deputies reduced accordingly – one seat cut from each of the island’s nine constituencies.

Nominations open from 20 to 22 April, though several candidates have already declared.

Express took a look at who’s in the running so far…

Deputy Lyndon Farnham

Chief Minister Lyndon Farnham is currently serving as Deputy for St Mary, St Ouen and St Peter, as well as holding the island’s top political office.

He became Chief Minister partway through the current political term following a successful vote of no confidence in his predecessor, Deputy Kristina Moore.

Deputy Farnham first entered the States Assembly in 1999 as a Deputy for St Saviour, a role he held until stepping away from politics in 2005.

He returned to the Assembly in 2011 as a Senator, before being re-elected in both the 2014 and 2018 islandwide elections.

After the Senatorial mandate was scrapped ahead of the 2022 election, he was successfully elected as a Deputy in the St Mary, St Peter and St Ouen constituency.

Throughout his political career, Deputy Farnham has held several senior roles – including Deputy Chief Minister and Economic Development Minister, in addition to his current position as Chief Minister.

He has also been a consistent advocate for the reinstatement of the islandwide Senatorial mandate.

Deputy Ian Gorst

Deputy Ian Gorst currently represents the St Mary, St Ouen and St Peter constituency, and serves as External Relations Minister.

He first entered the States Assembly in 2005 as Deputy for St Clement, a role he held for two terms before being elected as a Senator in 2011.

He retained the Senatorial seat in both the 2014 and 2018 elections, before returning to the role of Deputy following changes to the electoral system ahead of the 2022 election.

Deputy Gorst has held a number of senior positions during his time in office, including serving as Chief Minister for two terms.

He has also previously held the roles of Treasury Minister and Social Security Minister.

Deputy Gorst stood for Chief Minister following the vote of no confidence in Deputy Kristina Moore in January 2024, but lost to Deputy Lyndon Farnham by 27 votes to 22.

In his current ministerial role, Deputy Gorst has responsibility for External Relations, including oversight of the island’s financial services engagement internationally.

Deputy Mary Le Hegarat

Home Affairs Minister Mary Le Hegarat is currently serving as Deputy for St Helier North.

She was first elected to the States Assembly in 2018, returning for a second term in 2022.

Deputy Le Hegarat initially served as Chair of the Health and Social Security Scrutiny Panel, before sitting on the Privileges and Procedures Committee and the Environment, Housing and Infrastructure Scrutiny Panel.

In 2024, she was appointed Minister for Justice and Home Affairs. She has since overseen a number of reforms aimed at strengthening the island’s justice system and public safety framework – including introducing a package of five new laws to address crimes associated with violence against women and girls.

On fiscal policy, Deputy Le Hegarat has advocated for a long-term strategic approach to government spending – backing a stable tax framework and indicating her support for retaining the current rate of income tax, while opposing the introduction of capital gains or inheritance taxes.

Deputy Steve Luce

Deputy Steve Luce currently represents St Martin and Grouville, serving as Environment Minister.

He was first elected to the States Assembly in 2011, representing St Martin for 11 years, before being elected in the combined St Martin and Grouville constituency at the 2022 election.

Over the course of his time in the Assembly, Deputy Luce has held several senior roles – including serving as Chair of both the Economic and International Affairs Scrutiny Panel and the Environment and Infrastructure Scrutiny Panel.

He previously served as Environment Minister between 2014 and 2018, before returning to the role in 2022, where he has overseen a range of policy developments in areas including food regulation and environmental protection.

Recent work under his ministerial portfolio has included legislation introducing mandatory allergen labelling, updates to food-hygiene laws, and the introduction of a food-licensing scheme, alongside proposals to expand the island’s marine-protected areas.

Deputy Luce has said he supports the return of islandwide Senatorial representation and believes ministers should, where possible, hold Senatorial mandates.

If re-elected, he has indicated he would seek to continue as Environment Minister – with priorities including the delivery of a new Island Plan, Marine Spatial Plan, Energy Strategy and Water Strategy, as well as supporting the development and diversification of the rural and marine sectors.

Deputy Sam Mézec

Reform Jersey leader Sam Mézec currently represents St Helier South, serving as Housing Minister.

He was first elected to the States Assembly in 2014 at just 23 years old following a by-election in St Helier, before retaining his seat in the subsequent general election later that year.

He went on to be elected as a Senator in the 2018 islandwide election, before securing the highest number of votes in his district at the 2022 election.

During his time in the Assembly, he has held several senior roles, including Children’s Minister.

As leader of Reform Jersey since its formation, Deputy Mézec has also been confirmed as the party’s prospective Chief Minister candidate should he be re-elected.

He is currently serving as Housing Minister, where his focus has included addressing housing pressures, alongside wider policy work relating to affordability and social outcomes.

Deputy Mézec has said the next government should prioritise tackling the cost of living, improving infrastructure, and strengthening accountability around public spending, and has outlined his view that Jersey needs long-term structural change to address these challenges.

Deputy Helen Miles

Deputy Helen Miles currently represents St Brelade. She was first elected to the States Assembly in 2022 and has since held several senior ministerial and scrutiny roles.

She previously served as Home Affairs Minister under former Chief Minister Kristina Moore, before returning to the backbenches following the vote of no confidence in January 2024.

During her time as a minister, Deputy Miles established the Violence Against Women and Girls Taskforce, introduced a new three-year work permit to support the hospitality sector, and negotiated a scheme aimed at increasing the number of French day travellers to the island.

She has also chaired the Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel and served as vice-chair of the Scrutiny Liaison Committee, as well as leading the Parishes and Government Review Panel, which published recommendations on strengthening Jersey’s parish system.

Before entering politics, Deputy Miles spent more than 30 years in Jersey’s public service, working across Customs and Immigration, Probation and Aftercare, and the States Police, and later as a Director of Policy.

She has also been involved in the voluntary sector, including helping to found Autism Jersey, where she previously served as vice-chair.

Deputy Miles has said her focus is on addressing the cost of living, improving access to affordable housing, and ensuring public spending is controlled, alongside maintaining Jersey as a safe and affordable place to live.

Deputy Elaine Millar

Treasury Minister Elaine Millar is currently serving as Deputy for St John, St Lawrence and Trinity.

Deputy Millar was first elected to the States Assembly in 2022, following a career in senior roles across finance and law, and previously served as Jersey’s first female Viscount.

She served as Social Security Minister in Deputy Kristina Moore’s government, before being appointed Treasury Minister in 2024 under new Chief Minister Lyndon Farnham.

In her current role, Deputy Millar has been responsible for overseeing the island’s finances, including the development and presentation of the government’s Budget.

She said that she felt the government had “achieved quite a lot” and that she “would like to come back and try to do more”.

Bernard Place

Former nurse and civil servant Bernard Place became the first non-sitting States Member to officially declare for a Senatorial seat earlier this month.

Mr Place has held several senior roles in healthcare, including serving as project director for a previous iteration of the island’s hospital project.

Standing as an independent, he has said he would take a collaborative approach to politics and, if elected, intends to focus on Scrutiny rather than seek a ministerial role.

Mr Place has set out priorities including tackling the cost of living, improving access to housing, and supporting the island’s healthcare system, with a focus on what he describes as “practical reform” and delivering outcomes for islanders.

He said he is standing to help restore confidence in public services through “clear, deliverable change”, adding that he plans to publish further policy details during the campaign.

Sir Mark Boleat

Finance and policy figure Sir Mark Boleat has announced his candidacy for a Senatorial seat in the upcoming election.

Sir Mark is a former political leader in the City of London and was knighted in 2017 for services to the financial services industry and local government.

He has held several senior roles in Jersey, including positions with Andium Homes, the Jersey Development Company and the Jersey Competition and Regulatory Authority.

Standing as an independent, he previously contested the 2022 election as leader of the Jersey Alliance party.

He has outlined priorities including tackling the cost of living, addressing housing affordability, supporting the finance sector and wider economy, and improving public services efficiency.

Sir Mark said he is standing to contribute his experience in business and public policy, adding that he aims to support effective government while preserving Jersey’s distinct character.

Serena Kersten

Former netballer Serena Kersten has announced her candidacy for a Senatorial seat, becoming one of the Island’s highest-profile sporting figures to enter the political arena.

Mrs Kersten earned 100 caps for England and was part of the gold medal-winning team at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

She retired in 2022 and later returned to Jersey, where she lives with her husband and two young children.

Standing as an independent, she has said she wants to bring a fresh perspective to politics and supports a number of policies associated with the Value Jersey movement.

Mrs Kersten has identified priorities including tackling the cost of living, making it easier to do business, and improving opportunities for children’s physical activity.

She said she is standing to deliver practical change and broaden representation in government, citing her experience in elite sport as a key strength.

Alan Maclean

Former minister Alan Maclean has announced a return to frontline politics, seeking a Senatorial seat after an eight-year absence from the Assembly.

Mr Maclean was first elected in 2005 and went on to hold several senior roles, including Economic Development Minister and Treasury Minister.

During his time in government, he was involved in initiatives such as the development of Digital Jersey and Jersey Business, and emphasised maintaining strong financial reserves.

He stepped back from politics in 2018 and has since been working in the private sector, gaining what he describes as first-hand experience of the pressures facing Islanders and businesses.

Standing for one of the nine restored Senatorial seats, Mr Maclean has said his campaign will centre on clearer long-term planning and restoring confidence in Jersey’s future.

He has identified priorities including tackling the rising cost of living, improving access to affordable housing, delivering better value for money in government, and supporting economic growth by reducing bureaucracy.

Mr Maclean said he is standing to provide experienced and steady leadership, arguing that the Island faces increasing economic pressures and needs more effective decision-making and stronger collaboration within government.

Alan Le Pavoux

Charity manager Alan Le Pavoux has announced his candidacy for a Senatorial seat, setting out an ambition to become Jersey’s next Children’s Minister.

Mr Le Pavoux has built his career working in childcare before moving into the charitable sector, where he currently serves as charity manager for the Bosdet Foundation.

Alongside his professional work, he has been involved in a wide range of voluntary initiatives within the island community.

Among his contributions, he established the volunteer.je website, designed to connect Islanders with local projects in need of support, reflecting what he describes as a long-standing commitment to community service.

Mr Le Pavoux has said his campaign will focus on “practical solutions and collective effort”, with an emphasis on improving outcomes for children and families.

He has identified key priorities including tackling the cost of living, creating more opportunities for young people, and improving efficiency in public spending to deliver better value for money while supporting economic growth.

Mr Le Pavoux said his aim in seeking election is to help “leave Jersey in a better place for the next generation”, arguing that stronger support for children and families would have the greatest long-term impact on the island.

Martin Aliga

Child care officer Martin Aliga has announced his candidacy for a Senatorial seat in the next States Assembly.

Mr Aliga, who has lived in Jersey for 15 years, currently works as a residential child care officer within the Education Department, a role he has held for the past nine years.

Originally a graduate of Uganda Christian University, he later completed a Master’s degree at the University of Edinburgh.

Alongside his professional work, he has also been involved in community advocacy, including four years leading the States of Jersey Police anti-hate campaign.

Mr Aliga has said he aims to represent minority groups who may otherwise feel unheard in the political system, drawing on his own experiences.

His campaign focuses strongly on economic pressures facing Islanders, particularly the cost of living and housing.

He has highlighted concerns about residents considering leaving the Island, and has called for more affordable and sustainable housing solutions for young families and tenants.

Mr Aliga has also outlined priorities in health and education, including reducing stigma around counselling as part of primary care and encouraging a reduction in screen-based learning for children.

He has said he wants to promote a balance between rights and responsibilities among young people, alongside a broader focus on empowering the next generation.

Mr Aliga said he is standing to provide independent leadership and to “amplify the voices of the minority and the voiceless”, arguing that greater trust and engagement are needed to shape Jersey’s future.

Deputy Tom Binet

Health Minister Tom Binet has confirmed he will stand for a Senatorial seat in the upcoming election, ending speculation about his political future.

Deputy Binet was a political newcomer when he topped the poll in St Saviour in 2022.

He was initially appointed Infrastructure Minister in Deputy Kristina Moore’s government, but later brought a vote of no confidence in her leadership, which ultimately led to her removal from office.

He was subsequently appointed Health Minister and Deputy Chief Minister in Deputy Lyndon Farnham’s government.

Deputy Binet has said his decision to stand is informed by his experience in government, including what he described as a clearer understanding of its strengths, weaknesses, and areas where spending could be reduced and efficiency improved.

He has argued that the Island has become “complacent”, and has called for a greater focus on economic growth, including attracting new business and improving the efficiency of government.

He has also indicated that, if elected, he would seek a senior role in order to help drive improvements across the public sector.

Reflecting on his time as Health Minister, Deputy Binet said that progress has been made in addressing what he described as historic underfunding, including securing increased funding for health in the most recent budget.

Deputy Binet also highlighted reforms such as the reintegration of services including finance, HR, digital, procurement and the ambulance service into the health department, as well as improvements to medicines regulation.

He added that work on the new hospital has progressed, and said he hopes a construction contract for the project will be agreed in the near future.