Earlier this month, Jersey’s only political party produced its strategy for getting Jersey back on its feet after the Covid-19 crisis.
At the same time, the government was laying out the process it intends to take for stabilising the economy.
Senator Sam Mézec, Reform Jersey’s chairman, who also sits on the Council of Ministers as Housing and Children’s Minister, said his party would not support any recovery measures that led to austerity.
When asked what he made of Reform Jersey’s plan, Chief Minister John Le Fondré said: ‘All Members’ views will be considered, including proposals from Reform Jersey. This was also the case when developing both the Common Strategic Policy and the previous Government Plan.’
In Reform Jersey’s proposal, announced on Monday, Senator Mézec said the party wanted to ensure the Island did not fail in its recovery as, the minister says, it did after the 2008 financial crash.
He stopped short of saying he would step down from his ministerial role if the government did not adopt Reform Jersey’s plan.
On social media in the days after the deal was announced, the Senator said it had been met with ‘abuse and nastiness’ but not valid criticism.
He added: ‘Our proposals for a New Deal for Jersey are about putting the needs of ordinary working people at the heart of our recovery plan. Some people find that outrageous and can’t contain their indignation that we might try to make the recovery work for everyone.
‘So far I have not seen a single valid criticism of any policy, only abuse and nastiness.’
