In its newly published election manifesto, Reform Jersey – which describes itself as a ‘social democratic’ party with as many as 18 candidates due to stand in next month’s general election – has outlined ten pledges to the electorate.
They include:
*Reforming the income tax system to reduce the effective rate for taxpayers, except the highest-earning five per cent, who will be asked to pay more.
*Increasing the minimum wage to £10 an hour by 2022.
*Reducing social security contributions for the self-employed and increasing them for high earners.
*Placing a rent freeze on the social housing sector and an ‘empty property’ tax on unused properties.
*Reforming the electoral system to introduce one category of States Member elected in equal-sized constituencies.
Party chairman Deputy Sam Mézec said that he believed Reform Jersey should lead the government if the party was highly successful at the election, which is due to be held on 16 May, with members – including himself – keen to take on ministerial roles.
He added that that the time for party politics had come in Jersey and that it would be fully adopted – with a number of established parties – by the time of the next general election in 2022.
‘Our manifesto demonstrates how party politics works and how having detailed and credible policies is much better than what Jersey has had with independent candidates.
‘It allows voters to know absolutely where their political candidates stand rather than just relying on personality politics in elections.
‘The main reason why many people do not vote in Jersey is because they feel that nothing will change. Party politics allows people to hold politicians to much better account and subject candidates to much tougher questioning.’
He added: ‘I’m absolutely certain that by the time of the next election we will have full party politics in place.
‘People who are politically opposed to Reform Jersey will see what we have done by putting together a comprehensive manifesto and working together as a unit.’
When asked, Deputy Mézec agreed that his party’s new manifesto was ‘moderate’ and said that Reform Jersey’s policies were ‘not extreme’.
‘I think the political centre ground among Jersey’s public is not where Jersey politics has been over the years,’ he said.
‘Jersey politics has been more right wing than the public would like. Our manifesto shows that our policies, while unashamedly socially democratic, are not extreme stuff and perfectly viable.’
And the Deputy confirmed he would like Reform Jersey to lead the government, if a high number of their candidates were elected next month.
‘If all our candidates are elected then I think we should lead the government. We certainly want some of our members to be appointed to ministerial roles,’ he said.
‘I would like to be a minister and I would be happy to take on whatever position the public want me to.’
Deputy Mézec would not confirm, however, whether he would stand for Chief Minister should Reform Jersey be ‘highly successful’.
