AN unofficial and anonymous ‘election guide’ backing certain candidates over others has been slammed as “AI slop” made by “right wingers” by the leader of Reform Jersey, who he said would rather “smear others” than state their own vision for the Island.
Deputy Sam Mézec – who is seeking one of the nine Senatorial seat – said that he was aware of the 13-page document being circulated titled ‘Jersey 2026 Election Guide: Restoring The Jersey Way’.
Endorsing specific candidates constituency-by-constituency, the ‘guide’ – which contains no visible attribution – presents itself as a tactical voting handbook for Islanders who support “pro-growth”, a “light-touch government” and “innovation and enterprise”.
Top of the “recommended” Senator list is former Treasury and Economic Development Minister Alan Maclean, who is described as the “pro-growth candidate” who is “most strongly aligned” with the document’s principles.
It also backs a number of sitting ministers including Chief Minister Lyndon Farnham, “Jersey’s strongest international voice” External Relations Minister Ian Gorst, “The Reformer Who Held Government To Account” Health Minister Tom Binet, Environment Minister Steve Luce and Economic Development Minister Kirsten Morel, presenting them as part of a wider “pro-growth majority”.
Deputy Mézec is among the “not recommended” candidates listed in the document, which argues that he “opposes everything this guide stands for”.
It also criticises his political party, claiming that Reform Jersey “advocates for higher taxes, significant expansion of government services, and greater alignment with UK/EU social policy”.
The ‘guide’ continues: “Those who value Jersey’s low-tax, entrepreneurial and internationally competitive identity are unlikely to find Reform Jersey’s platform aligned with their priorities.”
It claims that “a vote for Mézec is a vote against The Jersey Way”. Other candidates feature in “not recommended” lists throughout the guide, including serving Deputies and figures associated with Reform Jersey and People First.
Another section headed ‘Why Political Values Matter in This Election’ contends that Reform Jersey is “not simply a party with different priorities – it holds a genuinely different vision for what Jersey should be”.
Deputy Mézec described the document as “AI slop generated by right wingers who clearly don’t have the courage of their convictions to make a positive case for their own vision for the Island”, adding that whoever was behind it was looking to “smear others” instead.
It is understood that the Jersey Electoral Authority is aware of the document – unconnected to the official vote.je publication – and will scrutinise spending declarations made by candidates and their campaigners to ensure compliance with the Public Elections Law.
Spending on elections by third parties is limited to half that of the candidates themselves – £2,800 for Senators and £1,700 for Constables and Deputies – and expenditure of more than £600 to try to influence the outcome of an election must be declared to the Judicial Greffe by 5pm on Friday 3 July.
