King no more

Wednesday 04 January 2017

The ink is hardly dry on Mike King's letter of resignation, but already pressure is growing for his role to be broken up and split amongst other civil servants.

Mr King was one of the Island's most senior Chief Officers, leading the Economic Development, Tourism, Sport and Culture Department - until news of his resignation broke yesterday.

But he was also one of the most controversial, being linked with the South African flights scandal last year, which saw Mr King and a colleague pay £13,000 for business class travel to a mining conference (Mr King later unreservedly apologised), as well as the funding of film due to be set in Jersey which never got off the ground.

The flights issue alone sparked several major reviews of States travel policy.

But he was also closely involved with the Jersey Innovation Fund, and the setting up of Digital Jersey, Jersey Business, Locate Jersey, the Ports of Jersey, Events Jersey and Visit Jersey.

Mr King had been Chief Officer of Economic Development since 2005, and had even at one time been linked with the overall States Chief Executive role, which later went to John Richardson.

In a statement yesterday, the States said he was leaving immediately, "by mutual agreement," but there was no indication of the exact reason for his departure.

Economic Development, Tourism, Sport and Culture Minister Senator Lyndon Farnham said: “I would like to thank Mike for all that he has done since joining in 2005 and especially for the work he has undertaken in the creation of the new department during my term of office. I wish him well for the future.”

Later, Deputy Jeremy Macon wrote to all States Members urging Mr King's duties be divided up amongst other civil servants:

"Can the States Employment board please clarify whether or not the duties of the position will be reviewed and reallocated amongst the very many 'senior officers' with in the department rather than employ another extremely expensive chief officer?"

Mr King leaves with a payment of six months salary in lieu of notice. The 2015 States' Accounts list him as being paid between £140,000 and £145,000 a year, making the payment approximately £70,000. He also has a States pension with a cash equivalent value at the end of 2015 of £402,000.