DETAILS of a three-tier system for policy talks around the Council of Minister table have been shared by the man in charge.
Chief Minister Lyndon Farnham told the JEP that he believed his government was more representative of the States Assembly and that the arrangements for ministerial discussions helped achieve a “no surprises” scenario.
In a Saturday interview marking a year to go until Jersey’s next election, Deputy Farnham discussed some of the challenges involved in leading the government since taking office in January last year, and what he hopes to achieve over the coming year.
The Chief Minister said his aim was to maintain a unified front among ministers, with a realistic approach to the question of disagreements among a group that covers a broad part of the political spectrum.
“We have a number of issues where not all ministers are aligned, and we have a structure for that, because it’s important we deal with that properly,” he added.
Deputy Farnham said that some issues would receive full government support, with all ministers and assistant ministers voting the same way, but that in cases of “fundamental disagreement”, including manifesto commitments made during the 2022 election campaign, there would be a clear agreement to differ ahead of an Assembly debate.
The third tier would see a free vote on non-governmental issues, including electoral matters.
Deputy Farnham, who has served as a States Member since 2011 and also for two political terms between 1999 and 2005, revealed he had not yet decided whether he would stand for re-election when nominations open next April. He said he expected to confirm his decision early in 2026.
“I don’t want to be distracted from what we have to deliver for the remainder of this term, or at least the remainder of this year, so my sole focus is going to be on that, and then I’ll make a decision early in the new year,” he said.
The full Saturday interview is in this weekend’s Jersey Evening Post.
