From Ministers voting against their own government, to birthday apologies, cinematic metaphors, cries of “sabotage” and the occasional open rebellion, this year’s Budget debate had plenty of moments that veered far away from the hard numbers.
Express takes a look at some of the good, the bad and the occasionally bizarre moments that stood out as States members sparred over the island’s future…
Agreeing to disagree? No, just a mistake…
One of the earliest surprises of the debate came on Monday when Health Minister Deputy Tom Binet appeared to quietly break ranks to back Deputy Sir Philip Bailhache’s amendment criticising what was described as “profligate” public spending.
While ministers rallied to defeat the proposal, which sought to halve withdrawals from the Social Security Fund, Deputy Binet was among the 15 Members who voted in favour, despite not speaking during the debate.
The moment landed awkwardly after Chief Minister Lyndon Farnham had confirmed there was no strict collective responsibility among ministers, with an “agreement to differ” applying in some cases.
However, Deputy Binet soon after stated that his vote had been accidental.
Another surprising Ministerial vote… or lack thereof
Deputy Karen Wilson’s attempt to bring forward the redevelopment of Le Squez Youth Facility ended in defeat – rejected by 29 votes to 14, with one abstention – but the vote count itself provided a moment of unintended levity. After the Greffier had carefully read out every Member’s decision, the Treasury Minister rose to address the Bailiff with a sheepish admission: “Sir, can I apologise? I was distracted and I somehow omitted to vote. I apologise.”
“Sabotage”?
The Budget debate briefly took on the tone of a political thriller when former Chief Minister Deputy Kristina Moore delivered a startling outburst. She accused a “small pocket” of civil servants of sabotaging her time in office, and alleged that at least one had fed confidential government information to the politician who went on to replace her, Deputy Lyndon Farnham.
In a dramatic intervention while proposing a £90 million cut to public spending, she said some “key people” in the civil service had missed the leadership style of previous Chief Minister John Le Fondré, and suggested her downfall was aided by those in the current Council of Ministers who “wanted power badly”. The current Chief Minister is yet to respond to the allegation.
Tin cans
Perhaps not quite “sabotage”, but in an act of protest on Wednesday – the third day of the Budget debate – members of new political ‘movement’ Value Jersey stacked 200 cans of baked beans outside the States Chamber to represent what they deemed as the government “kicking the can down the road” with its financial proposals…
Name-dropping
A debate about whether Jersey should scrap the upper earnings limit on social security and long-term care contributions took an unexpectedly personal turn when concerns about deterring wealthy arrivals prompted an unusual intervention from Deputy Ian Gorst. Reform Jersey’s Deputy Tom Coles argued that abolishing the £317,304 cap could raise £6 million a year for the Social Security Fund and £11 million for long-term care, but the proposal was firmly defeated amid warnings about spooking high-value relocaters.
Seeking to illustrate the point, Deputy Gorst offered a glimpse into life at the sharp end of relocation politics, explaining that some wealthy newcomers, “out of courtesy”, return to see him after settling in as they know he is involved in approving their applications.
“They use my first name,” he pointed out, before conceding, “but I know that’s not parliamentary.”
Constable shows his “rebellious” streak
One eyebrow-raising moment of the debate came when Constable Mike Jackson, an Assistant Environment Minister, broke ranks to support former Chief Minister Ms Kristina Moore’s amendment to cut government spending by £90 million – a move so unexpected it initially prompted puzzled looks, then laughter, in the Chamber.
The proposal was ultimately crushed by 40 votes to two, but the St Brelade Constable later insisted his vote was entirely deliberate, citing sympathy with the “sentiment” of the amendment despite its “impracticalities”. While acknowledging that government “party whips” had advised opposing it, he said: “We do need to be more vigorous about cutting cost, and I do have a rebellious streak.”
Are you sure that wasn’t a manifesto?
Deputy Sir Philip Bailhache’s speech in the closing stages of the Budget debate came complete with such a clear four-point plan for the next government that Deputy Montfort Tadier eventually felt compelled to intervene, questioning whether the veteran States Member and leader of newly rebranded Advance Jersey – formerly the Jersey Liberal Conservatives – was actually delivering a manifesto. Deputy Bailhache’s reply was firm: “I’m speaking on the Budget, sir, and I’m speaking on what I believe the next government should do.”
What followed was a plea for £100m-a-year spending cuts, a 10% reduction in public sector headcount, a cull of arms-length bodies and a crusade against “mind-boggling” regulation. Whether intentional or not, the remarks certainly wouldn’t have been out-of-place at a hustings…
Ring, ring…
As if an alarm for Deputy Bailhache to conclude his speech, St Saviour Constable Kevin Lewis’s mobile phone rang – an offence punishable by charity pot fine in the States Assembly. “My apologies, Sir, possibly the last donation of this term,” the Constable told the presiding Bailiff.
Watch the moment above, which came straight before a request for sandwiches, and then…
Battle of the birthdays
As States Members broke for a brief sandwich pause before returning for the evening sitting, the Economic Development Minister felt obliged to alert the Assembly: “If I may, just to say I’m going to have to advise Members… that it is my daughter’s birthday, and I do have to go to her birthday dinner.”
The Bailiff, without missing a beat, replied: “It’s my son’s birthday as well, actually – but there we are.”
But first, sandwiches
When the evening session started, Trinity Constable Philip Le Sueur was first to interject – but not about the Budget: “My apologies to the Assembly. I have to leave because I have a parish assembly this evening and been unable to arrange one of my procurers to cover for me, but I did enjoy the sandwiches.”
“I didn’t make them all,” the Bailiff replied, to much laughter.
A trip to a galaxy far, far away
Deputy Jonathan Renouf brought cinematic flair to proceedings, framing the Budget debate as a long-running film franchise struggling for fresh ideas. Picking up a theme he had introduced earlier in the week, he likened the latest spending plan to another instalment in what he dubbed the “Farnham budget franchise”, or, more pointedly, a “States Wars” saga.
With the first episode cast as ‘The Rise of Reform’, he suggested this year’s Budget might better be titled ‘The Binet Supremacy’, before warning that Jersey would have to wait until after the election for the sequel everyone really wanted: ‘A New Hope’.
Watch Deputy Renouf getting stuck into the Star Wars references here…
Content is king?
In a debate otherwise dominated by billions, borrowing and hard choices, Deputy Alex Curtis paused to celebrate a rather more niche government achievement. Touching on the importance of communication, he revealed that after previously calling out a drop in blog posts, ministers had quietly upped their output – from 74 blog posts in 2024 to 90 in 2025. “So there’s a win there,” he concluded, offering an endorsement guaranteed to bring a smile to the faces of government press officers… but perhaps very few others…
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