Maclean for Chief Minister?

Thursday 24 July 2014

Senator Alan Maclean is considering running for Chief Minister if he gets re-elected in October – but he says that his next term would be his last.

The Economic Development Minister has fired the starting gun on the race to lead the next Council of Ministers. The current Chief Minister, Ian Gorst, is widely expected to the be the first to stand for re-election after a term in the top job – the previous two both retired after one three-year term.

Senator Maclean has done six years at Economic Development and has been involved in the creation of Digital Jersey, the Innovation Fund and the project to free the ports from States’ control – but he’s also been behind the controversial £200,000 grant to the team running the “Crystal Island” film.

He says that ministers should switch jobs to prevent them getting too cosy or complacent, and while he thought Senator Gorst had done “a pretty good job”, Senator Maclean says that he had something to offer as the Island’s next Chief Minister.

But he says that if elected, his next term – all Members elected at the next election on 15 October will serve three-and-a-half years to bring the following election into the summer months – will be his last.

Asked about his goals for the next term, Senator Maclean said that instead of copying previous Comprehensive Spending Review projects, a proper reform process could yield long-term benefits for the Island and the public sector.

He said: “I feel very passionate about reform of the public sector. That responsibility sits in the Chief Minister’s department, although it has been delegated to me at the moment, and part of my focus for the role is to be where that reform project is happening.

“Public services need to be in the right place, at the right time, and at the right cost, and it’s something that I feel can be successful if we take staff with us.

“The structure of Jersey government creates limitations to the authority of the Chief Minister, so we have to operate a structure like a team, effectively bringing people together, and I think that’s a forte of mine.”