TWITTER can provide a great platform for candidates to engage with the electorate…
But it can also offer some interesting, and at times odd, interactions between those vying for votes.
Two Deputy candidates became embroiled in a Twitter spat this week – over whether a hotel was in St Saviour or St Helier. Following a hustings with the Chamber of Commerce, former Senator Philip Ozouf tweeted that he was ‘rather surprised’ that fellow St Saviour candidate Mary O’Keeffe had said that ‘#StSaviour has no dentist or doctor and @HoteldeFrance was in St Helier’, before adding: ‘Happy to confirm whole HdF site IS in #StSaviour.’ Ms O’Keeffe responded by posting a screen grab of the hotel’s website, which states that it is based on ‘St Saviour’s Road, St Helier’ and added: ‘Tell that to the hotel.’ Mr Ozouf also asked Ms O’Keeffe to ‘withdraw the comments you made about me during @jerseychamber hustings earlier today, please.’ She did not respond.
Was rather surprised @jerseyalliance1 led gov @okeeffe4deputy candidate said #StSaviour has no dentist or doctor
And @HoteldeFrance was in St Helier
Happy to confirm whole HdF site IS in #StSaviour
????Hotel
????Health Centre
????New HomesAll v high value rate-payers in Parish https://t.co/A9oM9o1iuD
— Philip Ozouf ???????????????? (@philipozouf) June 6, 2022
Meanwhile, Deputy Lindsay Ash – seeking re-election in St Clement – and St Peter, St Ouen and St Mary candidate Lucy Stephenson got into a slightly tetchy debate about the virtues of sunglasses.
I wasn’t sure about canvassing over a bank hol but I’m so glad we did-the conversations the last 2 days have been informative, enlightening and so insightful. From Long term care & pensions to the environment, planning & infertility- wow! &thank u from @Moore4Jersey and I #JSY22 pic.twitter.com/OWvc5PW1Qp
— Lucy Stephenson (@LucyStevoJSY) June 3, 2022
Commenting on a picture of Mrs Stephenson and Senator Kristina Moore canvassing, Deputy Ash said that the image – which showed Mrs Stephenson and Senator Moore with sunglasses on their heads – invoked the ‘spirit of Scott Wickenden’ in his ‘sunglass wearing head gear’.
Mrs Stephenson responded by questioning whether it might have been the ‘lack of a man in a grey suit which perhaps concerns you about this photo Mr Ash’.
Deputy Ash replied: ‘It was merely a quip/tribute to the great Wickster who I happen to like and wears his sunglasses on his head even in mid winter. No more than that, though a man in a grey suit would certainly give the picture a more diverse look in these woke times we reside in.’
This prompted Mrs Stephenson to respond by saying ‘Oh good, I’m glad, for a moment there I though it was another passive aggressive attempt at a dig at me.’
