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Jersey's new Housing Minister has hit out at his predecessor for stopping his political party from holding a regular monthly meeting at his coffee shop.
Reform Jersey leader Deputy Sam Mézec and the party's other St Helier representatives had until now been holding weekend constituency surgeries once a month at the Waterfront branch of Cooper & Co, which is owned by former Housing Minister David Warr.
However, following the vote of no confidence in Kristina Moore which led to Deputy Mézec taking the housing portfolio from Deputy Warr, Deputy Mézec revealed this weekend that the party's St Helier South team had been told they were "no longer welcome" to hold meetings there – something they had been doing for over a year.
When challenged over the move on social media, Deputy Warr said the decision was due to negative comments made towards him by other individuals.
Deputy Mézec told Express this morning that Deputy Warr had told the party they should no longer meet at his coffee shop in an email – something he described as a "revenge eviction".
Unfortunately Reform Jersey’s St Helier South Deputies have been told we are no longer welcome to hold our monthly weekend constituency surgery at Cooper&Co at the Waterfront.
— Deputy Sam Mézec (@SamMezecJsy) February 4, 2024
Once we secure an alternative venue, we will re-advertise accordingly.
Pictured: Deputy Mézec said his political party was "no longer welcome" at the coffee shop.
Deputy Warr stressed that he had not "banned" Reform, but confirmed that he had asked them to find somewhere else to hold their surgery.
He said this was because he had "unfortunately had a number of messages" from people criticising him for letting the political party use the premises.
One WhatsApp message, which Deputy Warr also shared on social media, said that having the new Housing Minister "holding court" at Coopers was "rubbing your nose in it".
Unfortunately I’ve had too many comments like this, and this is a polite one. Willing to reconsider in a few months time. pic.twitter.com/9JV6zJZnYw
— David Warr (@WarrOnWords) February 4, 2024
Pictured: Deputy Warr shared one of the negative texts on social media.
Sharing the message on social media, Deputy Warr said he might be willing to "reconsider in a few months' time".
"It is simply about the surgery," he told Express this morning, explaining that Reform members were still welcome in the shop.
"It is the act of promotion [of the party]."
Pictured: Deputy Warr said the Reform Jersey surgery was "promotional" and he was getting criticised for allowing it to be held in Coopers.
However, Deputy Mézec said: "I don't even know if I can be a customer of Coopers anymore."
He added that the same situation could occur if he was spotted in a queue or having a coffee.
"It [the surgery] wasn't promotional," he continued.
"We always had his permission previously – there hasn't been a problem until now."
Noting the timing of the situation, Deputy Mézec described it as a "revenge eviction".
Pictured: Deputy Mézec described the situation as a "revenge eviction".
However, Deputy Warr said that the situation had simply reached a "tipping point" and had nothing to do with recent political events, although he admitted the timing was "awkward".
"I have to bear in mind that it is a business environment and the situation needs to be conducive for customers," he added.
Some social media commentators weren't convinced, however.
Try being on the end of it day in and day out. You might like to reflect on that comment
— David Warr (@WarrOnWords) February 4, 2024
One claimed that the former minister was "salty", while another said: "Toys out of pram springs to mind."
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