CHIEF Minister Lyndon Farnham has become the latest senior politician to confirm he will be contesting the election in four months time – but has not revealed whether he will be aiming for the top job once again.
Instead, the long-serving politician has said his focus is on concluding the work outstanding during the remainder of this term of office before he will turn his attention to securing a seat in the next Assembly.
Deputy Farnham, who became Chief Minister part way through the current term following the successful vote of no confidence in his predecessor Deputy Kristina Moore, has indicated he will be seeking one of the nine Senatorial positions.
The Islandwide mandate was scrapped prior to the 2022 election but is set to be reinstated following Treasury Minister Elaine Millar bringing a successful proposition to the States last year.
Deputy Farnham has been one of the leading proponents of the Senatorial role and has regularly called for its return.
Confirming his intention to stand when Islanders head to the polls on Sunday 7 June, the Chief Minister said: “It has been an absolute honour to serve the Island as Chief Minister.
“My focus now is on completing the government’s work before the end of this term.
“During the election period, I will be working to secure re-election and we’ll see where we go from there.”
He added that any aspirations beyond securing a seat in the next Chamber would be premature.
“This government and I, moving forward, will remain focused on the key challenges facing Jersey”, he continued.
“These are bringing down the cost of living, making sure we remain fiscally stable and making the Island more affordable.
“We took over the government in a pretty difficult and fragmented place and we have worked to restore stability.
“Whoever is in the Assembly or in the next government needs to keep that at the forefront of their thinking.”
Deputy Farnham was first elected to the States Assembly in 1999 as a St Saviour Deputy, a position he held until stepping down from politics in 2005.
However, he returned to the States Chamber in 2011 as a Senator before being re-elected in both the 2014 and 2018 elections. In 2022, he secured one of the four Deputy seats in the St Mary, St Peter and St Ouen district.
As well as Chief Minister, Deputy Farnham has also served as Deputy Chief Minister and Economic Development Minister during his political career.
He is the latest member of the Council of Ministers to confirm they will be seeking re-election with External Relations Minister Ian Gorst and Treasury Minister Elaine Millar both set to stand for Senator.
Health Minister Tom Binet has also said he will be on the ballot paper but has not revealed whether this will be as a Deputy or Senator.
This summer’s election will be the first time that Islanders will head to the polls on a Sunday, with the weekend vote the latest attempt to improve Jersey’s historically poor voter turnout.
Key upcoming election dates
Monday 20 April: Electoral Candidate Nomination period begins
Wednesday 22 April: Nomination period ends at 5pm
Monday 27 April: Announcement of candidates
Sunday 7 June: Public election of all 49 States Members
Friday 19 June: First meeting of the newly-elected States Assembly and the election of a Chief Minister Designate
