THE leader of Jersey Alliance has announced he will stand for election in St Clement.
Sir Mark Boleat, who was elected leader of the party earlier this year, said he had chosen to seek one of the four Deputy seats in the parish following consultation with party colleagues and friends who live in the area.
Sir Mark said that although he was living in Jersey he did not reside in St Clement – but was planning to buy property there. He also said that he had one chairmanship involving work in the UK and Jersey, meaning he was tax resident in both jurisdictions.
He is still listed as an honorary consul of Latvia for Hertfordshire on the Embassy of Latvia website, with an address in Middlesex. However, he confirmed that he was ordinarily resident in the Island.
To be eligible to stand as a candidate, those who are Jersey born must be ordinarily resident in the Island for six months before the election, as well as for a total of five years previously. Those not born in Jersey must be ordinarily resident in the Island for two years before they can stand. Candidates have to be British citizens.
Sir Mark had already declared his candidacy, and his intention to put himself forward for the role of Chief Minister, but had not confirmed where he would be standing.
He is the second Jersey Alliance member to announce their candidacy in the parish, after current Deputy Lindsay Ash, while Treasury Minister Susie Pinel – a sitting St Clement Deputy – said earlier this week that she would not be seeking re-election.
‘My family has had strong connections with the parish since my great-grandfather came to Jersey in 1875 and innumerable family events have been held in the parish.
‘St Clement may be the smallest parish but it is a dynamic one with a population that has grown rapidly. It can boast stunning views along the whole of its coastline and has a great community spirit. It will be a real honour to represent the parish in the States Assembly,’ Sir Mark said, adding that he had always regarded St Clement as his ‘home parish’.
Speaking at his election as Jersey Alliance leader in February, Sir Mark said that the present political system, whereby the majority of the Assembly comprised independent candidates, was ‘not capable of giving Jersey the government it deserves’.
Currently a chairman of Link Scheme Ltd, which runs Britain’s cash dispenser network, Sir Mark was born and educated in Jersey. He later made a career in trade associations and was political leader of the City of London from 2012 to 2017. He was knighted in 2017 for services to the financial services industry and local government in London.
Sir Mark has also been chairman of Andium Homes and the Jersey Development Company, and worked with the government on population and housing policy.
Other confirmed election candidates for the eastern parish include Reform Jersey member Ken Addison; Alex Curtis, a member of political coalition Better Way, and nurse Barbara Ward.
