As anger among States Members into his handling of the ‘second job’ accepted by chief executive Charlie Parker continued to rise, Senator Le Fondré convened a highly unusual Sunday meeting of the Council of Ministers to address the issue.
The JEP has been told that backbench critics of the Chief Minister, led by Senator Kristina Moore, were on the verge of lodging a vote of no confidence today into his handling of the matter.
Good morning! You might have spotted this @JEPnews . I’ve just written to the CM and states members to tell them that I will lodge a #vonc today. With a covid winter ahead I am asking states members to listen to the great Jersey public & choose leadership they can trust https://t.co/bxNjgAIwNY
— Kristina Moore (@Moore4Jersey) November 2, 2020
Senator Moore, a long-time and outspoken critic of the Chief Minister, this morning [2 October] posted on Twitter confirming that she would be writing to States Members to inform them of her intention to lodge a vote of no confidence against the Chief Minister.
A series of government statements last week, following questions about Mr Parker’s non-executive role with UK-based real estate company New River asked by the JEP, has failed to pacify States Members. Some ministers have told the JEP off the record that they are ‘furious’.
Politicians demanded, but say that they have yet to receive adequate details about the approval process covering Mr Parker’s acceptance of the role.
Contractually, the chief executive must obtain written approval for any work, whether paid or unpaid, outside his government ‘day job’. Last week, the Chief Minister said in a statement that ‘notice of the chief executive’s appointment as a NED, and my approval, was not formalised in writing as it should have been, and members of the SEB were not consulted or informed. This error was the result of a number of factors, including the management of the Covid-19 pandemic, and is regrettable’.
It remains unclear whether the Chief Minister’s role as chairman of the States Employment Board gave him the authority to sanction a second job without involving other board members.
In a press release issued by the government communications unit on Tuesday, it was stated that the New River appointment had been cleared by both Senator Le Fondré and Deputy Chief Minister Lyndon Farnham, by the end of the week, however, it was confirmed by Mr Parker that Senator Farnham had expressed ‘reservations and concerns’ about the appointment and had not given his consent. It is not clear who signed off this release, although it is clear that it was not Senator Farnham, who was standing in for the Chief Minister who was on leave.
![Chief Minister John Le Fondré [foreground] and Charlie Parker, government chief executive [background] (29522330)](https://i0.wp.com/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/mna/ZWHMVTBDMFD6RNPVAFHLQ6GLHY.jpg?resize=780%2C520&quality=89&ssl=1)
Over the weekend, Islanders on social media were demanding an explanation for what was being described as a ‘lie’.
One politician told the JEP yesterday that when the matter of Mr Parker taking up the NED role had been discussed informally between the chief executive and Senator Farnham, the Senator cautioned Mr Parker against the move in unambiguous terms.
With the majority of ministers, as well as members of the SEB, not having been made aware of Mr Parker’s new role until news broke last week, support from inside the government for the Chief Minister appeared to be waning over the weekend in regard to this issue.
Should any ministers or assistant ministers decide they no longer backed the Chief Minister, the prospects of a vote of no confidence succeeding would increase significantly.
The Chief Minister is due to make a statement to the States Assembly this afternoon, when he will also face questions without notice from States Members.
The key clause in the States chief executive’s contract
You must not, either directly or indirectly, be engaged or concerned in any other service or business whatsoever (whether paid or unpaid), or receive commission or profits if any kind unless approved in writing by the Employer.
