Reform Jersey leader Sam Mézec has severed his long-standing membership of the UK Labour Party – denouncing it as “deeply ugly”, “nasty” and incompetent.
As an 18-year-old living in London, Deputy Mézec joined Labour because he believed “Tory austerity was proving to be a disaster”. He saw Labour as offering the “transformational change to get the country back on track”.
For many years, he maintained his party membership, but has now revealed that he made the decision to cancel it last year.
“I have watched on in despair over the last five years as it transformed into something deeply ugly,” he said.
Deputy Mézec confirmed he did not vote Labour in the 2024 UK general election – despite being eligible as an overseas voter – and said he has been “particularly critical” of the leadership of Keir Starmer.
“They sold the public hope, but have given them despair. It is no wonder they are so low in the polls now,” he said.
“The nastiness and the U-turns are bad enough, but throw in the incompetence on top of that and they just no longer offer anything for anyone.”
However, he said the tipping point that led him to cancel his Labour party membership, was its approach to the situation in Gaza.
Deputy Mézec was quick to stress that Reform Jersey has “never officially aligned with a specific UK political party”.
“We are a centre-left party that believes in social justice, combined with a strong economy that allows everyone to share in the prosperity we generate,” he explained.
“So we would have a lot in common with the centre-left UK parties – including historically the Labour Party.”
But he insisted Reform Jersey charts its own course.
“We have made our own way, and don’t need to look to any party to inspire the way forward for Jersey,” said Deputy Mézec.
“I am proud that Reform Jersey has managed to hold strong on our values, even when we have been in and out of government over recent years.
“We believe in social and economic justice, and we strongly oppose politicians breaking their election promises.
“We have worked constructively, even with those we disagree with, to achieve our manifesto commitments.”
