The winds of change blew through Jersey’s parliament on 19 October as voters cast out nine members of the States in the island’s general election, and drafted in 16 new faces.
A host of established political names have bitten the dust, among them 33-year States veteran Terry Le Main, foreign affairs minister Freddie Cohen and transport minister Mike Jackson – as a new wave of politicians took up seats in the States assembly.
At the crest of that new wave is a man who is no stranger to the States chamber – former Bailiff Sir Philip Bailhache, who topped the poll with 17,538 votes last night, taking up a new role as a senator having served successively as a parish deputy for Grouville, attorney-general and Bailiff between 1972 and 2009.
He was refusing last night to be drawn on his plans for the future and whether he might be a candidates in the next election – the one that decides who will become Jersey’s new Chief Minister in mid-November.
Sir Philip topped the poll in 11 of the 12 parishes, a feat which he put down to voters having responded warmly to his campaign platform of reform for the States.
In the end, more than 80 per cent of those who voted cast one of their ballots for Sir Philip, electing him as a senator, along with deputy Ian Gorst, senator Francis Le Gresley and former deputy Lyndon Farnham. Senator-elect Farnham joins Pat Ryan and Gerard Baudains as former politicians making a return to the States.
Yesterday’s election was the first in which all three classes of States member – senators, constables and deputies – were elected on the same day.
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