It was election night in Jersey...and the Chief Minister lost his seat

Thursday 23 June 2022

Jersey’s Chief Minister, Senator John Le Fondré, lost his seat and his Jersey Alliance party was almost wiped out of the States overnight in the island’s general election.

The right of centre party, which includes several members of the Council of Ministers, will hold only one seat in the new States’ Assembly – a parish Constable who was elected unopposed.

Senator Le Fondré was ousted after 17 years in the States. The Alliance’s other Ministers – Deputies Gregory Guida, Hugh Raymond and Rowland Huelin – also lost their seats, as did Deputy Lindsay Ash.

And the party’s candidate for Chief Minister, Sir Mark Boleat, who was standing for the first time, came last in his district.

Pictured: Chief Minister John Le Fondré has lost his seat in the States' Assembly in Jersey.

Reform Jersey, a left of centre party, doubled its number of seats from five to 10, including winning eight seats across two of the St Helier/Town districts.  

Among Reform’s successful candidates were Senator Sam Mézec, the party’s leader, Beatriz Porée, the first black States’ member, and Raluca Kovacs, the first States’ member of Romanian descent.

The other registered parties – Progress and Jersey Liberal Conservatives, who formed a coalition – won three seats, including securing a return to the States for former Bailiff Sir Philip Bailhache.

Pictured: Reform Jersey's Beatriz Porée and Sam Mézec celebrated as they and eight of their party colleagues were elected.  

Two Ministers who stood as independents lost their seats – Social Security Minister Judy Martin and Housing Minister Russel Labey.

But two other Ministers who stood as independents were re-elected – Senator Ian Gorst and Senator Lyndon Farnham.

Delighted this morning to see that my friend @Ian_Gorst has been re-elected in #JerseyElection2022

— Jonathan Le Tocq ???????? (@letocq) June 23, 2022

Pictured: Deputy Jonathan Le Tocq, the States of Guernsey's External Relations Lead, sent a message of congratulations to Senator Ian Gorst.

Philip Ozouf, a former Treasury Minister, will return to the States. He was elected as a deputy for St Saviour after four years out of the Assembly.

Pictured: Philip Ozouf made a triumphant return to politics after one term out of the States.

Women will make up nearly half of the new Assembly – 19 out of 37 deputies and 21 out of 47 members overall.

And Senator Kristina Moore has confirmed that she will try to become the first female Chief Minister in the Channel Islands after topping the poll in her district and seeing several of her declared supporters elected.

Pictured: Senator Kristina Moore was already picking up new endorsements last night in her bid to become Chief Minister.

Sir Philip Bailhache said during the election campaign that he also wished to be a candidate for Chief Minister, eight years after he stood unsuccessfully for the top job against Senator Gorst, who it is thought may also be persuaded to seek a return to the role.

Senator Mézec has not said whether he will stand for Chief Minister, but Reform's additional seats should allow it to play a more influential role in the next Assembly.

Full coverage of Jersey's general election is available on our sister island's site HERE.