The key roles in the new States Assembly are more or less complete … so, who is doing what, and who is keeping an eye on who?

Although there are a few players still to be picked, the first IX (well, XIV to be exact) has been selected with the Jersey manager – aka Chief Minister Lyndon Farnham – getting the full backing of the FA, or States Assembly, for his starting team.

However, the vice-captain (Deputy Chief Minister) and the second 11 (or Assistant Ministers) are yet to be picked, with names expected over the next few days.

The opposition, or Scrutiny, have picked their star players – but the bench has yet to be chosen.

But before these strained football analogies become as tired as a German striker, let us pick up the ‘Assembly 26’ Panini sticker book to find out more …

Council of Ministers

Chief Minister: Senator Lyndon Farnham

A seasoned political operator who was first elected to the States almost 30 years ago, Senator Farnham continues in the role he took on halfway through the last political term. The Cabinet Office supporting his work has a £18m annual budget.

Treasury Minister: Senator Alan Maclean

Senator Maclean returns to role he last did between 2014 and 2018. Responsible for a £47m annual budget.

Economic Development Minister: Deputy Gerald Voisin

Another returner after an extended absence, the retailer had responsibility for Economic Development under the committee system between 2002 and 2005.

Education Minister: Deputy Catherine Curtis

The only Reform Jersey member at the top table, the St Helier Central representative was chair of the Children, Education and Home Affairs Scrutiny Panel in the last Assembly. Responsible for a £182m annual spend.

Children and Families Minister: Constable Richard Vibert

The Father of St Peter continues in the role he held in the last Farnham government. Responsible for a £51m annual spend.

Health Minister: Senator Tom Binet

Another Member who keeps the same job, the former farmer will continue to oversee reform in the Health service and the building of the new ‘healthcare facilities’, including the in-patient hospital at Overdale. Responsible for a £381m annual budget.

Home Affairs Minister: Senator Helen Miles

The Senatorial poll-topper and former Customs officer returns to the job she held in the Moore government of 22-24. Responsible for a £68m annual budget.

Environment Minister: Senator Mary Le Hegarat

Jersey’s first female police inspector moves from Home Affairs to the Howard Davis Farm, taking on a new narrower portfolio without the Planning remit. Responsible for a £12m annual spend.

Planning Minister: Senator Sir Mark Boleat

A newcomer to the States Assembly but well-versed in Jersey politics, the knighted former City grandee will take on a new role with Planning being split from Environment.

Infrastructure Minister: Deputy Jonathan Renouf

A former Environment Minister, the St Brelade representative takes on responsibility for States-owned roads, buildings, drains and parks … and everything in between. Responsible for a £64m annual spend.

Social Security Minister: Senator Elaine Millar

The former Treasury Minister returns to the role she held in the Moore government, responsible for a £106m annual spend.

Housing Minister: Deputy Malcolm Ferey

The St Saviour poll-topper, who has held a variety of Assistant Minister roles since being first elected in 2022, steps up to the top table to set out housing policy and oversee the provision of social and affordable homes.

External Relations Minister: Senator Ian Gorst

The runner-up in the islandwide election, the former Chief, Treasury and Social Security Minister returns as Jersey’s ‘Foreign Secretary’ with additional responsibility for financial services. Responsible for a £14m annual budget.

International Development Minister: Deputy Carolyn Labey

The Grouville and St Martin representative returns to the role she has held since 2018, which also means she chairs the Jersey Overseas Aid Commission. Responsible for a £22m annual budget.

Scrutiny

The job of Scrutiny is to be a ‘critical friend’ to government, reviewing how it is run and proposals for new policy and legislation, and making recommendations for improvement.

Scrutineers are able to gather both physical evidence from ministers and government officials – such as reports – and hold hearings where they can question them on their work.

Scrutiny Liaison Committee

The Scrutiny Liaison Committee is a panel made up of the heads of all the other panels, who work together to coordinate reviews.

Sometimes the panel will agree that new, specialist panels should be set up – such as the previous States Assembly’s Future Hospital Review Panel, which examined the plans for the new hospital at Overdale.

Chair/Chief Scrutineer – TBC

Public Accounts Committee

This Committee – known as PAC – is primarily responsible for assessing how well taxpayers’ money has been spent and looked after, and whether the government is properly following the rules for the spending of public money.

Chair: Deputy Karen Wilson

(The Public Accounts Committee can also have non-elected members)

Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel

This panel primarily keeps an eye on the work of the Chief Minister and the Treasury Minister.

Chair: Deputy Lyndsay Feltham. The former Social Security Minister is a Reform Jersey member.

Economic and International Affairs Scrutiny Panel

This panel focuses on policies and legislation to do with Jersey’s relations with other jurisdictions and the finance industry. It normally questions the External Relations Minister, International Development Minister, and Economic Development Minister.

Chair: Deputy Samantha Gleave. The former communications director for the Value Jersey movement takes on her first role in the new Assembly.

Children, Education and Home Affairs Scrutiny Panel

This panel concentrates on the work of the Children and Education Ministers, and the Home Affairs Minister.

Chair: Deputy Victoria Li. Aligned with Value Jersey during the election, the St Helier north representative centred her campaign on education matters.

Health and Social Security Scrutiny Panel

This panel focuses on the work of the Health Minister and Social Security Minister.

Chair: Deputy Beatriz Porée. The Reform Jersey member sat on this panel in the last Assembly, but now steps up to lead it.

Environment, Housing and Infrastructure Scrutiny Panel

This panel is responsible for grilling the Ministers for Infrastructure, Housing, Environment and now presumably Planning.

Chair: Deputy Hilary Jeune. A former Assistant Environment Minister, the St John, St Lawrence and Trinity poll-topper was chair of this panel in the second half of the last Assembly.

Privileges and Procedures Committee

This Committee is responsible for keeping an eye on and making suggestions for improving the running of the States Assembly and the rules States Members must follow -previously, it has looked at improving States Members declaration of interests, for example – as well as electoral reform.

Chair: Deputy Carina Alves. First elected in 2018, the Reform Jersey member previously chaired the committee between February 2021 and June 2022.

Planning Committee

This Committee sits in public, coming together to hear representations about planning applications and making a final decision.

Chair: Deputy Alex Curtis. Vice-chair in the last Assembly, the St Clement poll-topper steps up to lead the committee.

Senator Farnham has indicated that Deputy Rose Binet will return as an Assistant Health Minister and Senator Serena Kersten, who was part of the Value Jersey movement, will have an Assistant Minister role with responsibility for sport.

Senator Maclean has also announced that Deputy Robert Parker, who was also part of Value Jersey, will be an Assistant Treasury Minister with responsibility for procurement.