Why I am involved in Jersey Politics

In 2011,  I made a commitment to reform our planning system following the re-development of Portelet Holiday village which I considered out of character with Jersey. I had given up my job as practice director of a local law firm to work full time as a States member for three years.  I  was elected and fulfilled this promises to the people St Brelade and demonstrated the commitment to take on the task of Island wide policy. I could have sought re-election as deputy but felt the long term policy challenges required an all island senatorial mandate.

In 2014 I stood unsuccessfully for election as Senator  when we faced a structural deficit in States finances .  At that time none of the ministers accepted that we were living beyond our means. Meeting the unfulfilled needs of our health and education services and public sector modernisation to moderate the excesses  of the bloated public sector,  are imperatives. I felt our elected Ministers simply lacked  the ability to achieve these objectives; reconnect with the public across all sectors of our community or restore lost trust and confidence in our Government.

In 2018 these and more major challenges remained . I felt the call of unfinished business and was re-elected as Deputy , this time being elected Minister for Environment. I served until 2022 right through COVID , completed the Island Plan , Carbon Neutral Roadmap and resolved Brexit fishing and Environmental regulation issues with the UK and EU

IN 2026 I am again motivated to stand for election by the combination of disappointment in our last Government , the scandal of wasting £100 M by their abandoning our vital new hospital , the failed ferry contract which damaged our economy and supply lines, the negative outlook for our economy, an unsatisfactory budget and need to revise our part of BREXIT TECA . I worried about the prevalence of well meaning but short term solutions which risk long term damage to Jersey. We need long term strategic solutions .