INFRASTRUCTURE Minister Tom Binet has resigned and called a vote of no confidence in the Chief Minister.
In a strongly worded report outlining his reasons for bringing the motion, the politician criticised Deputy Kristina Moore’s style and quality of leadership and said that the last 18 months had been a “depressing affair for many close to the centre of power”.
Speaking to the JEP shortly after lodging the proposition, the Deputy confirmed that he would stand for Chief Minister if he won the motion.
“This has been a long time coming,” he said.
“I would have resigned a month ago when Andy Jehan resigned but I wanted to get the Government Plan through and the next phase of the hospital guaranteed.
“I have not been happy with the quality and style of leadership for some time. I thought if I could just keep my head down and get on with things I could just push on. But I couldn’t. I have criticised people in the past for sticking with a regime they didn’t support, so for me, the time had come.
“I want to give States Members the opportunity to debate the quality of leadership and if they are happy with it they can get on with things without anyone being a thorn in their side.
“If they are not, then they will have the opportunity to change things.”
Asked if he would stand for Chief Minister if his proposition was successful, he replied: “I would be duty-bound to, so yes.”
The motion, which will be debated at the next States sitting starting on 16 January, was signed by Deputies Rose Binet, Andy Howell and Mary Le Hegerat
In the report accompanying his no-confidence motion, he said that Deputy Moore’s time as Chief Minister had started with numerous promises which had not come to fruition.
He wrote: “It is clear that morale amongst States Members is very poor, with many longer-standing Members claiming the current situation to be worse than under the previous government.
“It is no secret that the same can be said of many members of the public, especially in light of the degree of expectation that stemmed from the most recent election; expectations born (as they were) of the promises of high principle, made by the current Chief Minister, throughout the time of her rise to power.”
He cited several reasons for bringing the motion, including the departure of former government chief executive Suzanne Wylie, over which he claimed the Chief Minister had been “less than honest”.
The Deputy also highlighted the Chief Minister’s “strong, unwavering” support for the recently-reprimanded Health Minister, whose attitude towards the new hospital he described as “shameful” and whose decision to extend the contract of the Health Board chair led to the resignation of former Assistant Chief Minister Andy Jehan.
In the report, the Deputy added: “The past eighteen months have been a depressing affair for many, close to the centre of power, and this includes those involved from a civil service perspective.
“It has also been a time of disappointment for the people of Jersey.
“Our present Council of Ministers consists of a good number of capable people, but they lack the one thing that (in most cases) could bring out the best in them. And that is leadership. In recent times more fractures have emerged with no sign whatever of matters improving. Indeed, they worsen by the week. If Jersey is to face an uncertain and challenging future successfully, that needs to be corrected without further delay.
“Accordingly, all Members are urged to leave aside their own interests, take an objective look at what is genuinely in the best interest of the Island and vote to provide the Assembly with the opportunity to elect an alternative leader.”
