Reform Jersey leader voted Chief Scrutineer

Tuesday 19 July 2022

Deputy Sam Mézec will Chair the committee that coordinates the scrutiny of government - a position formerly held by current Chief Minister Kristina Moore.

The Reform Jersey party leader will lead the Scrutiny Liaison Committee, which is made up of panel heads and will include four fellow Reform members.

Deputy Mézec, who is Chair of the Corporate Services Panel, was challenged for the role by St. Brelade newcomer Moz Scott.

He beat Deputy Scott with 29 votes to 15, with five abstentions, which included Chief Minister Kristina Moore.

Deputy Scott will sit on the committee by virtue of her chairing the Economic and International Affairs Scrutiny Panel.

Other members will be Deputy Lyndsay Feltham (chair of Public Accounts Committee), Deputy Catherine Curtis (chair of Children, Education and Home Affairs Panel), Deputy Geoff Southern (chair of Health and Social Security Panel), who are all Reform Party members; and Progress Party member Deputy Steve Luce (chair of Environment, Housing and Infrastructure Panel). 

In her nomination speech, Deputy Scott had raised her concerns about the principle of having the committee dominated by a single party, although facing questions she said that she could not think of an example when a Reform party member had put political ideology before an evidence-based review.

Deputy Mézec said he would be a “critical friend” of the Government and would strive to be “objective, open and constructive”. 

He praised the work of the past committee and said his focus would include improving Members’ professional development and their knowledge of the law-drafting process, particularly around the first, second and third readings of legislation.