FOR Senator-elect Sir Mark Boleat, this year’s election was “a very different experience” without the “unpleasantness” he faced when he stood as part of the ill-fated Jersey Alliance party four years ago.
The former chair of the City of London’s Policy and Resources Committee successfully sought an Islandwide mandate, receiving 11,948 votes.
The result and circumstances stand in sharp contrast to his unsuccessful attempt to secure a Deputy seat in St Clement in 2022, then as leader of the Jersey Alliance party – which has since been dissolved.
He described that year’s election as “very unpleasant”, stating that Alliance “was a target”.
“This time I was standing entirely as an independent,” Senator-elect Boleat said.
“It couldn’t have been more pleasant. The hustings were fine, we all got on, all 17 of us, very well – including me and Sam [Reform Jersey leader Sam Mézec].
“We had a few good laughs together and one of my conclusions from all of that, frankly, is that it is the existence of groups that causes the nastiness.
“So it was a very different experience.”
He continued: “I had no unpleasantness at all from anybody. A couple of stupid comments on Facebook, but other than that it was fine. Lots of people saying ‘pleased you are standing, good for you’, people wanting to discuss issues, very few in an unpleasant way.”
In addition to his time as a political leader in London, Senator-elect Boleat has held a number of senior roles in the Island including time as chair of Andium Homes, the Jersey Development Company and the Jersey Competition and Regulatory Authority.
Asked whether he held any particular ministerial ambitions, he expressed an interest in serving in the new government but stressed that “it’s not about a department”.
“If the Chief Minister wants to talk to me, I would want a wider discussion about what are you trying to do? Where could I best help? And if you want me as X, this is what I would want to do, is that aligned with you?
“It’s not just where do you fit in, it’s where do you fit in in a team, which I think is just as important.”
