A POLITICIAN and an environmentalist have left one of the Island’s newest political parties to run as independent candidates in the election.
Social Security Minister Judy Martin and Piers Sangan both said they have parted ways with Jersey Alliance, which was formed last year and includes a number of sitting States Members – including Home Affairs Minister Gregory Guida, Assistant Home Affairs Minister Lindsay Ash and Assistant Chief Minister Rowland Huelin.
The news comes not long after JEP columnist Susana Rowles confirmed she had left the Jersey Liberal Conservatives, chaired by former Bailiff Sir Philip Bailhache.
Although she was not planning to stand, Ms Rowles said she now thought political groups were being ‘pigeon-holed’ – in that voters were judging parties based on their opinions of just a few of their members.
‘I still believe that Jersey stands to benefit from the introduction of party politics, but fear that perhaps due to its size, perhaps due to the new district voting system, or even the fact that we are in the infancy of party politics, the results are not going to be quite what I had hoped for,’ she said.
‘I think what is happening at the moment is political parties are being pigeon-holed based on members who have an existing track record. That is not compatible with my aims when forming a political party, so I decided it wasn’t for me,’ she added.
In a post on Twitter earlier this month she wrote: ‘Just for getting involved in politics I gained a bunch of trolls and people who knew nothing about me second guessing my credibility.’
Political parties have become a key talking point ahead of the June election, which will be the first to take place since major reforms – such as the removal of the role of Senator – were approved by the States Assembly.
Deputy Martin said: ‘In the middle of last year I had not decided I was going to stand. I did want to find out more about this party [Alliance] and joined with this in mind. I was willing to just help with the election if I didn’t stand. In February this year I decided I would stand.’
She added: ‘Then I had to decide if I felt going into my eighth election and probably my last [whether] I would like to remain as an independent or stand for Alliance. I spoke to a couple of original members and decided I would carry on as an independent. I wish the party well in the forthcoming elections along with all the other candidates.’
Commenting on why she had decided to run on her own, Deputy Martin said: ‘I have always been an independent – the change for me was joining a party. I haven’t had much feedback either way if people would support me if I was in the party or not. For me it’s a personal choice which I am happy with.’
Alliance Jersey party secretary and prospective candidate Mary O’Keeffe said: ‘We are obviously sad to no longer have Judy with us, she works extremely hard and we wish her all the best in the election. She has fought her own independent battles and knows how to manage her own campaign, so I think she just wanted to go with the formula that worked for her.’
Mr Sangan said: ‘My concern was that being attached to a party could potentially hinder my ability to be a clear voice for the environment.’
He added: ‘I have also had a lot of support from people who said they thought it would be easier to support me if I was an independent.’
Ms O’Keeffe said: ‘Piers is very passionate about the environment and we are sorry he has gone – there was no fall-out and I think he was just considering the best way for him to stand.’
