Appointment of a new Chief Minister for Jersey


25th January 2024

​The States Assembly met today, January 25 to vote for a new Chief Minister designate for Jersey.

There were three candidates:

  • Deputy Sam Mézec

  • Deputy Lyndon Farnham

  • Deputy Ian Gorst

After roll call and prayers, the Bailiff read out the nominations and drew lots to determine the order in which the candidates addressed the Assembly.

Each candidate spoke for up to ten minutes, followed by one hour of questions from members. While each candidate was being questioned, the other candidates withdrew from the Chamber and waited in an area where they could not hear the proceedings.

1.    Deputy Ian Gorst spoke first.

Go to 10 minutes into this morning's recording to watch.

2.    Deputy Lyndon Farnham spoke second.

Go to 1 hour 21 minutes into this morning's recording to watch.

3.    Deputy Sam Mézec was the final candidate to speak.

Go to 2 hours 34 minutes into this morning's recording to watch.

 

Open Ballot

An open ballot was held, where Members wrote their own name and indicated their preferred candidate on pre-printed ballot papers.

A candidate who received more than half of the votes cast would be selected as Chief Minister designate. The results were as follows:

  • Deputy Ian Gorst received 21 votes

  • Deputy Lyndon Farnham received 17 votes

  • Deputy Sam Mézec received 10 votes

  • There was 1 abstention

As there were three candidates, and nobody received more than half of the votes, the candidate with the lowest number of votes withdrew from the contest. This was Deputy Mézec.

The votes cast in the first ballot were as follows:

 

Deputy Gorst

Deputy Farnham

Deputy Mézec

Abstained

1

Connétable of St Lawrence

Connétable of St Helier

Deputy Southern

Deputy Wilson

2

Connétable of Grouville

Connétable of St Brelade

Deputy Tadier

 

3

Connétable of St Mary

Connétable of Trinity

Deputy R. Ward

 

4

Deputy Luce

Connétable of St Peter

Deputy Alves

 

5

Deputy Doublet

Connétable of St Martin

Deputy Mézec

 

6

Deputy Morel

Connétable of St John

Deputy C. Curtis

 

7

Deputy Ahier

Connétable of St Clement

Deputy Feltham

 

8

Deputy Gardiner

Connétable of St Ouen

Deputy Kovacs

 

9

Deputy Gorst

Connétable of St Saviour

Deputy Coles

 

10

Deputy Moore

Deputy Labey

Deputy Porée

 

11

Deputy Ozouf

Deputy Le Hegarat

 

 

12

Deputy Bailhache

Deputy Farnham

 

 

13

Deputy Warr

Deputy Scott

 

 

14

Deputy Miles

Deputy R. Binet

 

 

15

Deputy Renouf

Deputy Howell

 

 

16

Deputy Jeune

Deputy T. Binet

 

 

17

Deputy Millar

Deputy B. Ward

 

 

18

Deputy Ferey

 

 

 

19

Deputy A Curtis

 

 

 

20

Deputy Stephenson

 

 

 

21

Deputy Andrews

 

 

 

Go to 3 hours 46 minutes into this morning's recording to watch. The results are 4 hours into this recording.

A new ballot then commenced with the two remaining candidates, using the electronic voting system. The results were as follows:

  • Deputy Ian Gorst received 22 votes

  • Deputy Lyndon Farnham received 27 votes

  • Deputy Lyndon Farnham was duly chosen as Chief Minister designate.

 

Deputy Gorst

Deputy Farnham

1

Connétable of St Lawrence

Connétable of St Helier

2

Connétable of Grouville

Connétable of St Brelade

3

Connétable of St Mary

Connétable of Trinity

4

Deputy Luce

Connétable of St Peter

5

Deputy Doublet

Connétable of St Martin

6

Deputy Morel

Connétable of St John

7

Deputy Ahier

Connétable of St Clement

8

Deputy Gardiner

Connétable of St Ouen

9

Deputy Gorst

Connétable of St Saviour

10

Deputy Moore

Deputy Southern

11

Deputy Ozouf

Deputy Labey

12

Deputy Bailhache

Deputy Tadier

13

Deputy Warr

Deputy Le Hegarat

14

Deputy Miles

Deputy R. Ward

15

Deputy Renouf

Deputy Alves

16

Deputy Jeune

Deputy Farnham

17

Deputy Millar

Deputy Mézec

18

Deputy Ferey

Deputy Coles

19

Deputy A Curtis

Deputy Porée

20

Deputy Stephenson

Deputy Scott

21

Deputy Andrews

Deputy C. Curtis

22

Deputy Wilson

Deputy Feltham

23

 

Deputy R. Binet

24

 

Deputy Howell

25

 

Deputy T. Binet

26

 

Deputy Kovacs

27

 

Deputy B. Ward

Adjournment

The States Assembly then adjourned and will reconvene at 9:30am on Tuesday 30 January in order to elect Ministers to the new Government under the leadership of Deputy Farnham.

Deputy Farnham is required to submit his nominations for the Ministerial roles in his Council of Ministers by 9:30am on Monday 29 January.

Deputy Farnham remains as Chief Minister designate until ALL ministerial positions are filled, at which point he and his Council of Ministers will take office. For details on the process for this you can listen to our podcast which covers appointments: bit.ly/4294ucu

Back to news

Back to top
rating button