The motion was brought to the House by Senator Kristina Moore in the wake of the controversy over his handing of government chief executive Charlie Parker accepting a non-executive directorship with a UK real estate firm.
Mr Parker announced his resignation as Jersey’s top civil servant on Monday.
Senator Moore referred to the latest saga surrounding the departing chief executive as the ‘straw that broke the camel’s back’.
But she lost the proposition by 29 votes to 19, with one Member, Education Minister Tracey Vallois, abstaining.
In opening the no-confidence motion, she said it was ‘regrettable’ that she had been forced to bring the proposition.
However, she argued that the Chief Minister had failed to show adequate leadership throughout his time as Chief Minister, and had not acted with the openness and transparency in dealing with the furore surrounding the chief executive’s second job that she, and Members, should expect from the Island’s top politician.
She said: ‘What they ask and deserve is leadership, honesty and integrity. These are important times and we have considerable challenges and it is our duty, as an Assembly, to ensure we have the right leadership in place.’
She added that the public deserve to have a leader who is ‘clear, decisive and honest with them’.
Senator Moore said her reasons for bringing the no confidence motion were not solely due to the handling of Mr Parker’s employment matters and that, while the timing was admittedly not ideal, it should not simply be voted down because of that.
‘The Chief Minister claims that changing a leader in a pandemic is wrong, but what if that change can deliver better leadership, better decision-making and a stronger recovery?’
But the Chief Minister defended his record and said that now was not the time to change leader.
He said that the Island had been widely praised for its ‘world-class’ response to the coronavirus pandemic under his leadership.
And he added that with important business in the pipeline – including debates on the updated Government Plan and the site for the future hospital – a change of leadership could cause months of unnecessary delays.
He said that within weeks of being appointed Chief Minister, he quickly brought legislation for the Damages Law when the government was facing the prospect of multiple large payouts.
‘Under my leadership, the relevant law was lodged, it was debated in early 2019 and after six months that law saved the taxpayer approximately £45 million. That is my style – decisive particularly when it is urgent, technical and financial literate.’
He added that progress had been made on the project for the new hospital – with a debate due next week on the preferred Overdale site – as well as important financial legislation and changes to the tax system.
And he said that during his tenure, he had strengthened the Island’s position and relationships on an international scale.
Senator Le Fondré also defended his stance during the Covid-19 pandemic and said Jersey had gained ‘international recognition’.
‘We are not out of it yet and I really do worry that this distraction will undo much of the good work and results that we have achieved,’ he added.
‘Now is not the time to do this. The election is around a year-and-a-half away and that is when the public will judge me and ministers on our record.’
THE MEMBERS WHO VOTED AGAINST THE PROPOSITION (29):
- Senators Lyndon Farnham, Sarah Ferguson, Ian Gorst and John Le Fondré.
- Deputies Lindsay Ash, Gregory Guida, Mike Higgins, Rowland Huelin, David Johnson, Carolyn Labey, Russell Labey, Kevin Lewis, Jeremy Maçon, Judy Martin, Kirsten Morel, Susie Pinel, Trevor Pointon, Hugh Raymond, Richard Renouf, Graham Truscott, Scott Wickenden and John Young.
- Constables Richard Buchanan, Simon Crowcroft, John Le Bailly, Philip Le Sueur, Deidre Mezbourian, Len Norman and Chris Taylor.
THE MEMBERS WHO VOTED FOR THE PROPOSITION (19):
- Senators Kristina Moore, Steve Pallett and Sam Mézec.
- Deputies Geoff Southern, Montfort Tadier, Steve Luce, Louise Doublet, Mary Le Hegerat, Steve Ahier, Jess Perchard, Rob Ward, Carina Alves, Kevin Pamplin and Inna Gardiner.
- Constables Sadie Le Sueur-Rennard, Mike Jackson, John Le Maistre, Richard Vibert and Karen Shenton-Stone.
