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Council of Ministers (Jersey)

Collective institution of executive government in Jersey

Council of Ministers (Jersey)

Collective institution of executive government in Jersey

FieldValue
cabinet_nameCouncil of Ministers
flag_borderfalse
incumbentGovernment of Jersey
image[[File:Government of Jersey logo English.png250px]]
date_formedDecember 2005
government_head_titleChief Minister
government_headLyndon Farnham
deputy_government_head_titleDeputy Chief Minister
deputy_government_headKirsten Morel
other_government_minister_titleAssistant Chief Minister
other_government_ministerAlex Curtis
current_number12
political_partiesIndependents
election2005, 2008, 2011, 2014, 2018, 2022
incoming_formationAppointed by the States Assembly
or Chief Minister
predecessorCommittee system
governorSir Jerry Kydgovernor_title=Lieutenant Governorstate_head_title=Monarchstate_head=Charles III

or Chief Minister

The Council of Ministers (; ) is the collective decision-making body of the Government of Jersey, formed by the Ministers of the States of Jersey and the Chief Minister. The council co-ordinates policies and administration, especially policy affecting two or more ministers, prioritises executive and legislative proposals, and presents a "Strategic Plan for Jersey" for approval by the States Assembly.

The Government of Jersey is the executive and administrative arm of the States of Jersey and the identity used by the Council of Ministers for these purposes. All ministers in the council are appointed by, and must be, members of the States. The council does not represent a parliamentary majority as ministers may be elected on a variety of manifestos. The executive is prevented from constituting a majority of the 51 elected members by the States of Jersey Law 2005, which places a legal cap of 22 on the number of states' members who may hold office as chief minister, minister and assistant ministers.

The first Council of Ministers was established in December 2005. Before then, the executive powers of the States of Jersey were managed by a committee-based system of States members.

Constitution

The ministerial system of government in Jersey was established by the States of Jersey Law 2005. Part 4 establishes the role and election of Ministers.

There are at least 8 members of the Council - the Chief Minister and 7 other ministers.

The functions of the council is:

  • to co-ordinate the policies and administration for which they are responsible as Ministers
  • to discuss and agree policy which affects 2 or more of them
  • to discuss and agree their common policy regarding external relations
  • to prioritise executive and legislative proposals
  • to agree and, within 4 months of their appointment, lodge for referral to one or more Scrutiny Panels, a statement of their common strategic policy
  • such other matters as the Chief Minister or the Council of Ministers may determine

Ministers provide policy direction to Government officers, having given fair considering to those officers' informed and impartial advice.

Present composition

The current council of Ministers was elected after Kristina Moore lost a vote of no confidence on 16 January 2024 by 27 votes to 22. The Chief Minister is now Lyndon Farnham who was elected on 25 January 2024.

The previous Council of Ministers was selected by the States Assembly on Monday 11 July 2022. All of the candidates nominated by newly-elected Chief Minister, Deputy Kristina Moore, were backed by States Members.

Only the International Development Minister, Deputy Carolyn Labey, retained her role from the previous government. Deputy Ian Gorst, who served as External Relations Minister under John Le Fondré's premiership, kept his place on the Council of Ministers but in a new role overseeing the Treasury.

Deputies Kristina Moore and Philip Ozouf both returned to the government after a four-year absence, while six of the 2022 cohort of Ministers were new to politics.

All of the Ministers and Assistant Ministers are independent politicians, apart from Assistant Social Security Minister, Deputy Malcolm Ferey, who is a member of the Jersey Liberal Conservatives.

PortfolioMinisterTerm
Ministers
Chief MinisterDeputy Kristina Moore
Deputy Chief MinisterIndependent (politician)}}"Deputy Kirsten Morel
Minister for External RelationsIndependent (politician)}}"Deputy Philip Ozouf
Minister for International DevelopmentIndependent (politician)}}"Deputy Carolyn Labey
Minister for InfrastructureIndependent (politician)}}"Deputy Tom Binet
Minister for Social Security
Assistant Treasury and Resources MinisterIndependent (politician)}}"Deputy Elaine Millar
Minister for Housing and CommunitiesDeputy David Warr
Minister for Home AffairsIndependent (politician)}}"Deputy Helen Miles
Minister for Treasury and ResourcesIndependent (politician)}}"Deputy Ian Gorst
Minister for Health and Social ServicesIndependent (politician)}}"Deputy Karen Wilson
Minister for Children and EducationIndependent (politician)}}"Deputy Inna Gardiner
Minister for the EnvironmentIndependent (politician)}}"Deputy Jonathan Renouf
Assistant Ministers
Assistant Chief MinisterIndependent (politician)}}"Connétable Andy Jehan
Assistant Chief Minister
Assistant Economic Development, Tourism, Sport and Culture MinisterDeputy Alex Curtis
Assistant Economic Development, Tourism, Sport and Culture MinisterDeputy Lucy Stephenson
Assistant Children and Education Minister
Assistant Treasury and Resources MinisterIndependent (politician)}}"Connétable Richard Vibert
Assistant Children and Education Minister
Assistant Home Affairs MinisterIndependent (politician)}}"Deputy Louise Doublet
Assistant Environment Minister
Assistant Home Affairs MinisterIndependent (politician)}}"Deputy Hilary Jeune
Assistant Health and Social Services MinisterIndependent (politician)}}"Deputy Rose Binet
Assistant Infrastructure Minister
Assistant Treasury and Resources MinisterIndependent (politician)}}"Deputy Steve Ahier
Assistant Social Security MinisterJersey Liberal Conservatives}}"Deputy Malcolm Ferey
Party key
Independent (politician)}}"
Jersey Liberal Conservatives}}"

Appointment of ministers

The States Assembly elects a member for appointment as Chief Minister after every ordinary election of deputies and whenever the Chief Minister is not able to continue to fulfil their role. The Chief Minister, or any other States member, then may nominate members for appointment as Ministers. From those nominations, States members then elect members into each ministerial office. The Chief Minister or a Minister are in office until the next appointment to their role, or until they resign or are dismissed by the Chief Minister.

The States Assembly can hold a vote of no confidence in the Government and the Chief Minister, or any individual Minister. This happened in December 2020, when Senator Kristina Moore lodged a vote of no confidence in the Chief Minister over a controversy involving the Chief Executive of the Government, Charlie Parker. The proposition was lost 29 votes contre, 19 votes pour, with the Education Minister abstaining.

Chief Minister

The Chief Minister acts as president of the council and matters may be brought for discussion by any minister. The Chief Minister may not be a Minister or Assistant Minister.

The functions of the Chief Minister with regard to the council are:

  • to co-ordinate the discharge of common functions of the Council
  • to conduct external relations with the common policy agreed by the Council

Operation

Legally ultimate responsibility for the policy decisions of a department rest solely with the minister, however in practice matters are decided by a unanimous or majority vote of all the ministers. The Council of Ministers may require an individual minister to follow directs if a policy falls within the functions of the council and is in the public interest.

The minutes of Council meetings are drawn up and kept by the Office of the Greffier of the States.

Previous Councils

Frank Walker (2005–2008)

Jersey's first Ministers were appointed in 2005, with Frank Walker becoming the first Chief Minister of Jersey.

Only one of the ten ministers he nominated to join his Council of Ministers failed to be elected, Senator Len Norman, whose position was filled by Deputy Guy de Faye.

  • Chief Minister of Jersey: Senator Frank Walker
  • Treasury Minister: Senator Terry Le Sueur
  • Economic Development Minister: Senator Philip Ozouf
  • Home Affairs Minister: Deputy Andrew Lewis (replaced Senator Wendy Kinnard)
  • Health and Social Services Minister: Senator Ben Shenton (replaced Senator Stuart Syvret)
  • Education, Sport and Culture Minister: Senator Mike Vibert
  • Planning and Environment Minister: Senator Freddie Cohen
  • Housing Minister: Senator Terry Le Main
  • Social Security Minister: Senator Paul Routier
  • Transport and Technical Services Minister: Deputy Guy de Faye

Terry Le Sueur (2008–2011)

Former Senator Terry Le Sueur was Chief Minister of Jersey

Elections for ministerial posts were held on 11 and 12 December 2008. The nominees of the Chief Minister were successful with the exception of Senator Routier, proposed successively for Health and Social Services and Education, Sport and Culture. Three ministers subsequently resigned as ministers (but remained as States members) in the face of criticisms of their personal conduct: Senator Jim Perchard (2009), Deputy Terry Le Main (2010) and Deputy Sean Power (2011), triggering further elections. One minister, Senator Freddie Cohen, exchanged the role of Planning and Environment Minister for that of "foreign minister" in 2011.

  • Chief Minister of Jersey: Senator Terry Le Sueur
  • Treasury Minister: Senator Philip Ozouf (elected with 38 votes; Deputy Geoff Southern received 13 votes)
  • Economic Development Minister: Senator Alan Maclean (elected with 32 votes; Deputy Mike Higgins received 20 votes)
  • Home Affairs Minister: Senator Ian Le Marquand (elected with 34 votes; Senator Stuart Syvret received 18 votes)
  • Health and Social Services Minister: Deputy Anne Pryke (from April 2009). Her predecessor, Senator Jim Perchard (elected in 2008 with 31 votes; Senator Paul Routier receiving 21 votes) resigned in April 2009 after controversy surrounding remarks he made in the chamber urging Senator Stuart Syvret to commit suicide.
  • Education, Sport and Culture Minister: Deputy James Reed (elected on the fourth round with 31 votes). Deputy Reed was the Chief Minister's initial candidate for the post. However, when his nomination of Senator Routier for Health and Social Services was defeated, he withdrew Deputy Reed's name and nominated Senator Routier in his place. Deputies Reed, Judy Martin and Roy Le Hérissier were also nominated. In the first round of voting Senator Routier received 16 votes, Deputy Reed 13 votes, Deputy Le Hérissier 12 votes and Deputy Martin 11 votes. With Deputy Martin eliminated, in the second round Deputy Le Hérissier received 20 votes while Senator Routier and Deputy Reed both received 16 votes. In the tie-breaking third round Deputy Reed received 29 votes and Senator Routier was eliminated with 23 votes. In the final round Deputy Reed was elected with 31 votes and Deputy Le Hérissier received 22 votes.
  • Planning and Environment Minister: Deputy Rob Duhamel (from July 2011). Senator Freddie Cohen, who was elected to the ministerial post unopposed in 2008, resigned in order to focus on his role as "foreign minister" (formally, as an assistant minister to the Chief Minister).
  • Housing Minister: Deputy Andrew Green (from February 2011). He replaced Deputy Sean Power, in post since June 2010, was resigned after he was "found to have broken the Data Protection Law by sending a confidential and personal email to a States colleague on to a third party". Power's predecessor had also resigned: Senator Terry Le Main, elected in 2008 with 27 votes (Senator Alan Breckon receiving 25 votes), stood down as minister in June 2010, following unproven allegations, which he vigorously denied, about his relationship with a property developer.
  • Social Security Minister: Deputy Ian Gorst (elected with 36 votes; Deputy Geoff Southern received 16 votes)
  • Transport and Technical Services Minister: Constable Mike Jackson (elected with 33 votes; Deputy Rob Duhamel received 19 votes)

Ian Gorst's first term (2011–2014)

Senator Ian Gorst the Chief Minister of Jersey

Elections for ministerial posts were held on 17 and 18 November 2011. The chief minister's nominations were all contested; two of his nominations were defeated, and five ministerial posts were decided by margins of between 1 and 3 votes. The chief minister's nomination of Senator Ian Le Marquand to the Treasury was defeated, and so the chief minister amended his nomination for Home Affairs to retain Senator Le Marquand on the council, by withdrawing his nomination of Senator Lyndon Farnham. The chief minister's nomination of Connétable John Refault to Transport and Technical Services was defeated, with Deputy Kevin Lewis, a former Assistant Minister for Transport and Technical Services, being elected.

  • Chief Minister of Jersey: Senator Ian Gorst
  • Treasury and Resources Minister: Senator Philip Ozouf
  • Economic Development Minister: Senator Alan Maclean
  • Home Affairs Minister and Deputy Chief Minister: Senator Ian Le Marquand
  • Health and Social Services Minister: Deputy Anne Pryke
  • Education, Sport and Culture Minister: Deputy Patrick Ryan
  • Planning and Environment Minister: Deputy Rob Duhamel
  • Housing Minister: Deputy Andrew Green
  • Social Security Minister: Senator Francis Le Gresley
  • Transport and Technical Services Minister: Deputy Kevin Lewis

Ian Gorst's second term (2014–2018)

  • Chief Minister of Jersey: Senator Ian Gorst
  • Treasury and Resources Minister: Senator Alan Maclean
  • Economic Development Minister: Senator Lyndon Farnham
  • Home Affairs Minister: Deputy Kristina Moore
  • Health and Social Services Minister: Senator Andrew Green
  • Education, Sport and Culture Minister: Deputy Rod Bryans
  • Planning and Environment Minister: Deputy Steve Luce
  • Housing Minister: Deputy Anne Pryke
  • Social Security Minister: Deputy Susie Pinel
  • Transport and Technical Services Minister: Deputy Eddie Noel

John Le Fondré (2018–2022)

The Council of Ministers saw a number of changes during John Le Fondré's time as Chief Minister. Of his 2018 picks, several were no longer in office by the end of the electoral term.

PortfolioMinisterTerm
Ministers
Chief MinisterJersey Alliance}}"Senator John Le Fondré
Deputy Chief MinisterIndependent (politician)}}"Senator Tracey Vallois
Deputy Chief MinisterIndependent (politician)}}"Senator Lyndon Farnham
Minister for Children & HousingReform Jersey}}"Senator Sam Mézec
Minister for Children & Housing
Minister for Children & EducationIndependent (politician)}}"Deputy Jeremy Maçon
Minister for Children & EducationJersey Alliance}}"Deputy Scott Wickenden
Minister for Economic Development, Tourism, Sport and CultureIndependent (politician)}}"Senator Lyndon Farnham
Minister for EducationIndependent (politician)}}"Senator Tracey Vallois
Minister for the EnvironmentIndependent (politician)}}"Deputy John Young
Minister for External RelationsIndependent (politician)}}"Senator Ian Gorst
Minister for InfrastructureIndependent (politician)}}"Deputy Kevin Lewis
Minister for International DevelopmentIndependent (politician)}}"Deputy Carolyn Labey
Minister for Health and Social ServicesIndependent (politician)}}"Deputy Richard Renouf
Minister for Home AffairsIndependent (politician)}}"Connétable Len Norman
Minister for Home AffairsJersey Alliance}}"Deputy Gregory Guida
Minister for Housing and CommunitiesIndependent (politician)}}"Deputy Russell Labey
Minister for Social SecurityIndependent (politician)}}"Deputy Judy Martin
Minister for Treasury and ResourcesJersey Alliance}}"Deputy Susie Pinel
Party key
Jersey Alliance}}"
Independent (politician)}}"
Reform Jersey}}"

On 12 December 2018, Senator Tracey Vallois resigned as Deputy Chief Minister to focus on her Education portfolio. She later resigned from her post as Minister for Education on 11 January 2021 following a disagreement with other Ministers over allowing students back to school during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Children & Housing Minister, Sam Mézec resigned from his post on 9 November 2020 to back a vote of no confidence against Senator Le Fondré.

Deputy Jeremy Maçon took over the role of Minister for Children and Housing, which was later renamed 'Minister for Children and Education' (combining Senators Mézec and Vallois' previous roles) while a new position of 'Minister for Housing and Communities' was created. Maçon was relieved of his ministerial duties by the Chief Minister on 24 March 2021 and formally resigned three months later.

The Home Affairs Minister, Connetable Len Norman, died on 1 July 2021. His Assistant Minister, Deputy Gregory Guida, took over as Minister for Home Affairs.

Assistant ministers

PortfolioMinister
Assistant Minister for Treasury and ResourcesJersey Alliance}}"
Assistant Chief MinisterJersey Alliance}}"
Assistant Minister for the EnvironmentJersey Alliance}}"
Assistant Chief MinisterJersey Alliance}}"
Assistant Chief MinisterIndependent (politician)}}"
Assistant Minister for Economic Development, Tourism, Sport and CultureIndependent (politician)}}"
Assistant Minister for the EnvironmentIndependent (politician)}}"
Assistant Minister for Health and Social ServicesIndependent (politician)}}"
Assistant Minister for Health and Social ServicesJersey Alliance}}"
Assistant Minister for Children and EducationIndependent (politician)}}"
Assistant Chief MinisterJersey Alliance}}"
Assistant Minister for Social SecurityIndependent (politician)}}"

References

References

  1. "Council of Ministers adopts 'Government of Jersey' identity".
  2. (1 January 2019). "States of Jersey Law 2005".
  3. "Assistant Ministers Appointed".
  4. "Moore's Ministers Approved".
  5. (15 July 2022). "Assistant Ministers are appointed".
  6. Heath, Richard. (10 November 2020). "Jersey's Chief Minister survives vote of no confidence".
  7. Senator Philip Ozouf, BBC Radio Jersey Talkback June 24th 2007
  8. Anon. (2011). "Inside the States – Council of Ministers election". bbc.co.uk.
  9. (2011). "A minister falls on his sword". [[Jersey Evening Post]].
  10. Anon. (2011). "New Environment Minister elected". [[Jersey Evening Post]].
  11. (2011). "New Housing Minister elected". [[Jersey Evening Post]].
  12. Anon. (2011). "Minister resigns over email data breach". [[Jersey Evening Post]].
  13. Quérée, Ben. (2011). "Minister resigns". [[Jersey Evening Post]].
  14. (19 November 2011). "Deputy Anne Pryke wins a four-way battle for Health". [[Jersey Evening Post]].
  15. (7 June 2018). "The States of Jersey elect new Council of Ministers".
  16. "Government of Jersey".
  17. (2021-07-20). "New third political party in Jersey to sit 'centre-right'". BBC News.
  18. "Tracey Vallois resigns as Deputy Chief Minister". Bailiwick Express.
  19. (2021-01-11). "Jersey's Education Minister quits over reopening of schools".
  20. (2020-11-09). "Two Jersey Ministers resign in fall out over the Chief Executive's second job".
  21. (2021-03-24). "Maçon Removed As Children's Minister". [[Channel 103]].
  22. (7 June 2021). "Jersey Education Minister Jeremy Macon resigns over police investigation". BBC News.
  23. "Statement by the Chief Minister on the death of Connétable Len Norman, Minister for Home Affairs".
  24. (December 2024). "Members".
  25. (December 2024). "Members".
  26. (December 2024). "Members".
  27. (December 2024). "Members".
  28. "Carolyn Labey".
  29. "Kirsten Morel".
  30. (December 2024). "Members".
  31. (December 2024). "Members".
  32. (December 2024). "Members".
  33. "Richard Vibert".
  34. Potigny, Fiona. (2021-10-06). "Deputy Maçon returns to Government". [[Bailiwick Express]].
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