PHILIP Ozouf made a triumphant entry into the political arena in November 1999 when he ranked top of the poll among eight candidates competing for four vacancies for the role of Deputy in St Helier No3 district.
The then-29-year-old polled 1,618 votes to finish more than 200 clear of his nearest rival, attributing his success to knocking on an estimated 1,400 doors during his campaign.
Among the other political newcomers of that vintage was Lyndon Farnham, who was elected as Deputy of St Saviour No2 district the same day and served for six years before stepping away from politics between 2005 and 2011.
Only two of the current States Members served in the Assembly earlier than Ozouf: Constable Simon Crowcroft, who was originally elected as a Deputy in 1996 and has been ever-present in the Chamber since then, and Deputy Philip Bailhache, who served for two years as Deputy of Grouville in the early 1970s before embarking on a judicial career that lasted until his retirement as Bailiff in 2009, after which he returned to the political fray in 2011.
Since being elected a few weeks before the end of the 20th century, Ozouf has had an eventful career in politics, stretching across more than a quarter of a century.
- 1999-2002: Ozouf served on four committees from the month after his election: Finance and Economics, Housing, Cottage Homes and Industries, and subsequently became vice-president of public services in early 2002.
- 2002-2008: another poll-topping performance at election time, with Ozouf – one of 13 candidates for six Senatorial positions – amassing 14,442 votes to finish more than 2,000 clear of second-placed Wendy Kinnard. During a six-year term, his roles included six months as president of Environment and Public Services, a year as president of Environment and Public Services and – following the Island’s switch to ministerial government – three years as Economic Development Minister.
- 2008-2011: in his re-election as Senator, Ozouf was one of six successful candidates, polling 8,712 votes – around 5,500 behind poll-topper Ian Le Marquand. He then served as Treasury Minister and Deputy Chief Minister in the government headed up by Senator Terry Le Sueur. In his first Budget, delivered in December 2009, Ozouf introduced proposals for £558 million in taxes as part of a move to address a “looming” deficit estimated at between £50m and £68m, pledging “unprecedented scrutiny” on departmental spending.
- 2011-14: having been elected for a six-year term in 2008, Ozouf was not involved in the 2011 election and retained his role of Treasury Minister under the Island’s new Chief Minister, Senator Ian Gorst.
- 2014: there were contrasting fortunes for senior ministers standing for re-election, with Ozouf receiving 10,080 votes – the lowest tally of the eight successful candidates from a field of 17 hopefuls. This left him almost 4,000 votes behind Senator Gorst, who topped the poll, and just 200 clear of his nearest challenger, Sarah Ferguson, with a recount taking place to confirm the standings.
- 2014-17: Ozouf served as Assistant Chief Minister with responsibility for Financial Services, Digital and Competition, before resigning from the post following publication of a report from the Auditor General criticising the way in which the Jersey Innovation Fund had lost a substantial part of the public funds entrusted to it.
There was also criticism around the use of his States credit card, which was used for personal items ranging from books, to medical expenses, clothing and an iPad. Ozouf had to repay more than £11,000, but was cleared of any wrongdoing over the payments. - March 2018: Ozouf told the JEP that he would not be standing in May’s election, referring to “a year from hell” but saying that his absence from the Chamber would be a break rather than a permanent departure.
- June 2022: Fulfilling his pledge to seek a return to politics, Ozouf stood as a candidate for the election to five Deputy positions in St Saviour. With exactly 1,000 votes, he finished fifth out of the 12 candidates, more than 500 behind poll-topper Tom Binet and just 54 ahead of the highest-ranked unsuccessful candidate, Suzanne Webb.
- July 2022: Ozouf was elected as External Relations Minister, with responsibility for financial services, in the government headed by Chief Minister Kristina Moore. However he subsequently resigned from his financial services role in February 2023 after being summonsed to attend the Petty Debts court on three occasions in as many months – something which he put down to personal oversights. He remained as External Relations Minister until the vote of no confidence in the Chief Minister in January 2024, after which a new government was formed.
- February 2025: At the Magistrate’s Court, Ozouf was fined £575 for driving his BMW at 31mph in a 15mph green lane. The politician also failed to show a valid insurance disc – although he had been insured at the time – and subsequently failed to attend three parish hall inquiries, leading to his court summons. This led to a proposition from the Privileges and Procedures Committee to suspend him without pay for 28 days, with Members voting 29-17 in favour of this move in September.
- November 2025: A month after he returned to the Assembly at the conclusion of his suspension, Ozouf was again the subject of a PPC proposition after he pleaded guilty to the immigration offences. On this occasion Members voted by 31-8 in favour of his being suspended, with pay, as a “neutral act” until the conclusion of the matter at a sentencing hearing.
- February 2026: Ozouf is sentenced to 120 hours of community service for immigration offences. His co-defendant, Roberto Lora, is handed a £5,000 fine. Advocate James Bell, defending Ozouf, tells the Royal Court: “His political career, that he has devoted so much of his life to, is in tatters.”
