Select a region
The shock resignation of the Chief Minister's long-term ally Andy Jehan from Government is the latest in a number of recent events to have thrown Ministerial unity into question... So how unified really is the Council of Ministers?
Express delved into the latest drama – and Ministerial voting stats – to find out...
The first major Ministerial clash surfaced earlier this year with the resignation of Government CEO Suzanne Wylie, which brought a spat between Chief Minister Kristina Moore and Infrastructure Minister Tom Binet into the open.
Deputy Binet broke ranks to suggest that the Chief Minister had not been transparent in her communications around the CEO's departure. The Chief Minister later released a set of correspondence that revealed tensions between her and Deputy Binet stretched as far back as October.
Pictured: In March, Infrastructure Minister Tom Binet broke ranks to suggest that the Chief Minister had not been transparent in her communications around the CEO's departure.
Later in the year, Deputy Binet told States Members during a debate on the controversial creation of a new oversight board for Health that he had been threatened by the Chief Minister that he would be reported to the political behaviour watchdog – the Commissioner for Standards – if he stood up to speak against the motion. Deputy Moore denied that this was a threat.
Deputy Binet was not the only member of Deputy Moore's team to object to the health reform – four others also voted against: Assistant Ministers Steve Ahier, Rose Binet and Richard Vibert, and Assistant Chief Minister Andy Jehan.
During the debate, Constable Jehan went so far as to explain that he had offered to resign due to his disagreement.
This was referenced in his explosive resignation letter, which expressed "severe concerns" about the board, and also fired a broadside at the Health Minister for the apparent lack of "coherent strategy" in Health, as well as her failure to endorse the Government's plans to upgrade the island's health facilities.
Pictured: Constable Jehan stepped down from his role over the weekend, firing a broadside at Health Minister Karen Wilson in his resignation letter.
The lack of Ministerial consensus over the hospital was highlighted in a recent report by Scrutiny, which warned that Ministers' disagreement risked delaying the project even further.
Health-related policy hasn't been the only major area of disagreement.
In October, the Chief Minister took the extraordinary step of publicly expressing her extreme disappointment in her Assistant Minister's decision to throw out a £120m town regeneration plan – leading to questions over how unified Ministers really are.
Deputy Jeune – who was backed up by Environment Minister Jonathan Renouf – has not spoken publicly on the matter.
Pictured: In October, the Chief Minister took the extraordinary step of publicly expressing her extreme disappointment in her Assistant Minister's decision to throw out a £120m town regeneration plan.
Deputy Moore was subsequently accused of breaking the Ministerial Code of Conduct – rules governing how political leaders are expected to behave – by former Planning Committee Chair Alastair Layzell, who helped introduce it.
Responding to the suggestion, Deputy Moore said: "I always seek to ensure that I act in accordance with the code of conduct. My officials would advise me if I was to take any action in breach of that. I do not consider that I had breached the code of conduct and practice and I do not believe any advice to the contrary."
A lack of consensus on certain matters can also be observed in the Council of Ministers' voting records.
According to the States Greffe's historic voting records, there are multiple instances in which Ministers have failed to present a united front in the States Assembly.
Ministers are expected to engage in debate in private and to reach an agreement around the Council of Ministers' table before presenting a unified stance in the States Assembly.
Pictured: The Code of Conduct sets out the standards expected of Ministers and Assistant Ministers.
This is known as the principle of collective responsibility and aims to demonstrate cohesive and strong leadership in shaping the island’s future.
This approach was enacted in 2014 and is defined in the Code of Conduct, a document that governs Ministerial behaviour.
The Code states: “Collective responsibility requires that Ministers should be able to express their views frankly and freely in private while maintaining a united position when decisions have been reached.”
However, the Council of Ministers' voting history in the States Assembly since the 2022 election reveals multiple occasions where certain Ministers have gone against the majority of their Ministerial colleagues.
A proposition to alter the composition of a rent tribunal by including landlords, tenants, charities, and Andium representatives saw Ministers divided, with seven votes against and six in favour. The proposition was ultimately rejected by the States Assembly, 23 to 12.
Pictured: Divisions in the Council of Ministerial position re. Composition of Rent Tribunal (P.89/2022).
Another disunified debate among ministers came when a backbencher proposed that the States Employment Board should publish the headcount, number of vacancies and staff turnover of the Government every six months.
Four ministers voted against and nine were in favour.
The proposal was approved with 32 votes for and 12 votes against.
Pictured: Divisions in the Council of Ministerial position re. Reporting of headcount and vacancies (P.69/2023).
Similarly, a vote on providing a free hopper bus service for Active cardholders to Springfield stadium saw disunity with 11 members of Government voting for and three against.
The attempt to ease parking problems was subsequently defeated 25 to 19.
Pictured: Divisions in the Council of Ministerial position re.Provision of a free hopper bus service for Active card holders (P.33/2023).
In June, the Chief Minister reminded colleagues via email of the “expectation” they should support each other ahead of a debate over plans for an interim 'Advisory Board' for Health.
The message read: "Hi all, just for clarity the position of our Ministerial Code is to support and engage in consensus decision-making.
"This means that the place for discussion and debate for us is around the table of CoM and the expectation is that following those discussions we support each other when a decision has been made."
Looking at voting data, Kristina Moore has consistently voted with the majority of her Ministerial team.
However, no single Minister has followed the majority vote 100% of the time.
Perhaps somewhat reassuringly for the Chief Minister, her Deputy Chief Minister Kirsten Morel, only deviated twice.
The other two most loyal Ministers – both of whom also only voted differently twice – were Environment Minister Jonathan Renouf and Housing Minister David Warr. The latter was part of Kristina Moore's 'Better Way' coalition.
On the other end of the spectrum, the now-former Assistant Chief Minister Andy Jehan emerged as the most disloyal, deviating from the Council's prevailing position 15 times.
Despite being a 'Better Way' member, Assistant Chief Minister Alex Curtis swayed 10 times.
Pictured: A bar chart representing the number of Ministerial votes against the majority position of the current Council.
Minister for International Development Carolyn Labey also voted differently 10 times, while Infrastructure Minister Tom Binet voted against the Council’s position seven times.
In contrast, the former Council, under the leadership of former Chief Minister John Le Fondré, appeared more unified in their voting habits, despite several Reform Jersey politicians holding ministerial roles.
Express looked at the voting data of the previous Council from September 2018 to November 2019, to compare the levels of voting unity with the current Council over a similar time period.
Pictured: A bar chart representing the number of Ministerial votes against the majority position of the former Council.
The former Chief Minister deviated from the majority Council of Ministers' position three times, while his most loyal colleagues were External Relations Minister Ian Gorst, swaying twice, and Economic Development Minister Lyndon Farnham, who swayed only once.
The most 'disloyal' Minister was Social Security Minister Susie Pinel who swayed eight times, while Environment Minister John Young swayed seven times, with Infrastructure Minister Kevin Lewis, Health Minister Richard Renouf and the former Housing Minister Sam Mézec all swayed six times.
Yesterday, the Chief Minister announced that Simon Crowcroft, Constable of St Helier, will now take Constable Jehan's place as Assistant Chief Minister, while Social Security Minister Elaine Millar has been proposed as Vice-chair of the States Employment Board, subject to confirmation by the board. Deputy Malcolm Ferey will also join the SEB.
Meanwhile, External Relations Minister Deputy Philip Ozouf will be joining Health alongside Karen Wilson, adding the role of Assistant Minister to his portfolio.
Pictured: Simon Crowcroft was announced as the new Assistant Chief Minister yesterday following a reshuffle prompted by Andy Jehan's resignation.
It comes as several backbench politicians are demanding answers on the running of the Health Advisory Board in the wake of Constable Jehan's departure.
Some sources have suggested that Kristina Moore may now find herself under pressure to consider Deputy Wilson's position as Health Minister – or may otherwise face a vote of no confidence herself.
Only time will tell if this reshuffle will bring more unity to the Council of Ministers... or if another reshuffle will take place soon...
Town Constable becomes CM's right-hand man after resignation reshuffle
Politicians demand answers after Assistant CM's parting shot at Health
Assistant CM takes aim at Health Minister in explosive resignation letter
IN FULL: Constable Andy Jehan's resignation letter... and the Chief Minister's response
Concerns over "apparent lack of Ministerial consensus" about hospital plans
Comments
Comments on this story express the views of the commentator only, not Bailiwick Publishing. We are unable to guarantee the accuracy of any of those comments.