A SENIOR backbench politician has ripped into the current government for “plundering reserves” as a way of coping with an “inability to control expenditure”.
Deputy Philip Bailhache launched his broadside yesterday at the launch of his rebranded political party Advance Jersey, which he hopes will increase its presence in the States Assembly following next June’s general election.
The representative for St Clement, who was first elected in 1972 and has also served as Attorney General and Bailiff, criticised Chief Minister Lyndon Farnham for his claims that the Budget, lodged earlier this month and set to be debated in December, would help bring stability.
“I’m afraid I don’t see much stability in prospect – we seem to be unable to control our expenditure,” he said. “The Budget is underpinned by taking nearly £50 million every year for the next four years from the grant to the Social Security Fund.
“Nearly a quarter of a billion pounds is indirectly coming from a fund which supports the payment of pensions and benefits for our children and grandchildren.”
Deputy Bailhache also expressed concern about increased government borrowing without a clear indication of how loans would be repaid, and concluded that: “The trouble with plundering reserves to meet current spending is that the reserves eventually run out – that’s not a recipe for stability.”
The Budget includes proposals to reduce the amount the government pays into the Social Security Fund in 2026 by £46.7 million to around £50m to compensate for income dropping below forecast levels between 2024 and 2026 inclusive.
The proposed reduction in the States grant to the fund would then be £42m for 2027, £46m the following year and £45m in 2029.
Deputy Bailhache also set his sights on rival political party Reform Jersey, which fielded 14 candidates at the 2022 election and saw 10 elected to the Assembly.
“We need to match that figure if we are to have a chance of influencing the government in 2026,” he said. “And why not? Most Jersey people do not, I believe, embrace socialist principles – it is up to us to shape party politics in the best interests of the Island.”
Reform Jersey was not concerned about fiscal restraint, Deputy Bailhache argued, repeating his criticism of Housing Minister Sam Mézec for his changes to the Island’s rental laws, passed by the Assembly two weeks ago.
Prior to being rebranded as Advance Jersey, Deputy Bailhache’s party fielded five candidates under the banner of Jersey Liberal Conservatives, forming a pre-election past with the Progress Party, which put forward four candidates. Only three of the nine candidates were elected: Deputy Bailhache and his JLC colleague Deputy Malcolm Ferey, plus Deputy Steve Luce of the Progress Party, which was dissolved in 2023.
Describing Advance as “a party of fiscal prudence”, Deputy Bailhache said the Chief Minister had failed to deliver a pledge to reduce the headcount in the public sector, and highlighted healthcare spending as a major concern.
Free hospital treatment for all was not sustainable, he argued, saying: “Those who can afford it are going to have to pay something towards the cost – this could be by some system of insurance, as we have with primary care, where the Health Insurance Fund subsidises consulting a GP.”
Deputy Bailhache added: “The problem needs urgently to be researched, but I see no evidence of that – we need some policy options and we need to make a decision quickly.”
