ONE of the two political parties left in the States Assembly has changed its name. Jersey Liberal Conservatives is now “Advance Jersey”. Ahead of the Island’s next general election in June 2026, the party’s application to change its name was endorsed in the Royal Court on Friday. Founded in 2021, the party fielded five candidates […]
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Party leader predicts ‘controversial’ debate over electoral law change
FURTHER “controversy” may be ahead when legislation surrounding the reintroduction of Senators to the States Assembly is debated, the leader of one of the Island’s political parties has warned. Deputy Sir Philip Bailhache spoke about the build-up to the Island’s next general election as part of an interview marking his party’s change of name from […]
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Budget battle lines drawn
And so, with exactly six weeks to go, the main battle lines around this year’s Budget are being drawn. The first thing to note is that no one is arguing the problems are easy to solve; but the debate is really over how far this Budget goes in solving them, and what is left in […]
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Bid to suspend Deputy slammed as ‘disproportionate’ by fellow politician
A BID to suspend Deputy Philip Ozouf for motoring offences is “misguided”, “entirely disproportionate” and should be withdrawn, a senior politician and former Bailiff has said. Deputy Philip Bailhache, who has completed 16 years as a States Member in a career that has also included stints as Bailiff, Deputy Bailiff, Solicitor General and Attorney General, […]
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Backbencher says government must ‘mend its ways’ over Budget funding
THE government’s “plundering” of the Social Security Fund could be blocked if politicians back an amendment to the 2026 Budget proposals. Deputy Sir Philip Bailhache said he wanted to “lay down a marker” that would persuade ministers to scrap plans to reduce the annual States grant to the fund over the next four years. The […]
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Budget amendment seeks to reduce ‘financial stress’ of health fund
MINISTERIAL plans to reduce the the value of a fund which provides subsidies for Islanders’ healthcare appointments could be blocked, if States Members back an amendment to the Budget. The proposal by Deputy Philip Bailhache would see the proportion of social security contributions paid into the Health Insurance Fund rise from 2% to 2.5% in […]
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Move to reverse social security ‘plundering’ defeated in opening Budget vote
THE government survived the first challenge to its Budget as an amendment criticising “profligate” public spending was defeated, albeit with one minister voting against his colleagues. Health Minister Tom Binet was among 15 Members to vote in favour of the amendment by Deputy Philip Bailhache, who proposed that withdrawals from the Social Security Fund in […]
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Backbencher takes aim at government ‘plundering’ of Social Security grant
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 […]
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Deputy loses bid to drive wrecking ball through new rent legislation
A SENIOR politician’s attempt to bring about major changes to the Island’s proposed rental laws through a self-confessed “wrecking amendment” has been narrowly defeated in the States Assembly. After around four-and-a-half hours of debate, Deputy Sir Philip Bailhache failed by three votes to win support for his amendments to Housing Minister Sam Mézec’s proposition to […]
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Politicians vote for French ID scheme extension
STATES Members have unanimously backed a proposition to continue allowing French day-trippers to travel to Jersey using their ID cards. The proposal from Deputy Philip Bailhache asked Home Affairs Minister Mary Le Hegarat to maintain the post-Brexit day-tripper scheme, which was first trialled in 2023 and extended by 12 months last year. Politicians voted by […]
