CHIEF Minister Frank Walker emerged politically unscathed yesterday after fighting off two separate attacks in the States.
Deputy Geoff Southern was left humiliated after his vote of censure against Senator Walker received the support of just one fellow member of the Jersey Democratic Alliance. And Senator Stuart Syvret was defeated by almost as decisive a margin in his vote of no confidence proposition in the entire Council of Ministers. He lost by 41 votes to eight.
However, the sacked Health Minister said that the council’s victory underlined more than ever the need for a marginalised electorate to have real representation in the States. He used his closing speech in the vote of no confidence debate shortly before lunch yesterday to launch a new political party. He said Jersey Charter would be a movement for change based upon a set of core values to be published as a charter within days.
Speaking this morning, Senator Frank Walker said that he was delighted with the results of the votes, which had, despite the intentions of the two men behind the attacks, turned into huge votes of confidence in his leadership.
He said that he was pleased to be able to get back to running the Island, as so much of his time during the past few weeks had been taken up preparing for the two debates.
