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Political parties in Jersey

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Although the politics of Jersey has been largely based on independent parliamentary representatives, from time to time the island has had political parties. There are currently 3 active political parties in the island.

In 2000, the Clothier report noted that "over the centuries Jersey has had many parties, by which one means only a coming together of like minds to achieve a particular objective. Once achieved, the binding purpose has disappeared and the group pursuing it has dissolved. Such a grouping is not a true political party because it lacks the cement of a common philosophy of government, having only a narrow objective to hold it together until the objective is either attained or lost".[1]: para 4.10  Various parties have been formed over the years in Jersey, but since the 1950s the majority of candidates have stood for election unaffiliated to any political party.

Current parties

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List of present political parties
Name Leader Number of States Members Notes
Reform Jersey Sam Mézec 10 formed as a pressure group in 2012, reconstituted as a political party in 2014
Jersey Alliance Mark Boleat 0 formed in 2021
Jersey Liberal Conservatives Philip Bailhache 2 formed as a political movement in 2021, reconstituted as a political party in 2022.[2]

History

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18th century

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Historically, two parties dominated Jersey politics. Originating in the 1770s, the Jeannot party formed around the radical lawyer and Connétable, Jean Dumaresq, who opposed the cabal of Jurats who surrounded Lieutenant-Bailiff Charles Lemprière (whose supporters became known as the Charlot party). The Jeannots rapidly adopted the nickname of Magots (cheese mites) after their opponents boasted of aiming to crush them like mites.[3]

Dumaresq believed in political reform and was an early example of a Liberal. He believed in democratic reform - that the States should have vested in them executive power and should be composed democratically elected Deputies.[4]:200

19th century

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Bread riots in St Helier, 1847

After the Napoleonic Wars, the parties were still existent. St Ouen provided each party with an emblem and a name: the Charlots (the Conservatives, sporting a rose) and the Magots (the Progressives, sporting a laurel leaf).[4]:231

The symbolism soon became entrenched to the extent that gardens displayed their owners' allegiances, and pink or green paintwork also showed political sympathies. Still today in Jersey, the presence of established laurels or rose gardens in old houses gives a clue to the past party adherence of former owners, and the chair of the Constable of Saint Helier in the Assembly Room of the Parish Hall still sports the carved roses of a former incumbent.

In order to help control voting in Jersey, it was not unknown for citizens to find themselves taken and stranded on the Écréhous until after voting had taken place.[5]: 72  By the time of the introduction of the secret ballot in 1891, party politics had waned.

Blues and Reds contested local elections into the 1920s, but Islandwide party politics lay dormant until the post-Occupation elections under the new Constitution of 1948.

After the Occupation

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Senator Philip Le Feuvre topped the poll in 1948 on a platform of implementing Social Security

The first election under the new constitution saw a struggle for dominance between the Jersey Democratic Movement and the Jersey Progressive Party, led by Cyril Le Marquand. Having achieved the political reforms it advocated the Progressive Party soon folded as an organisation, while the Democratic Movement, incorporating the tiny Communist Party of Jersey,[6] continued in existence as a campaigning social movement until the late 20th century.[7]

After the 2005 constitutional reforms

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The prospect of ministerial government and the creation of an executive and opposition, led to the formation of two political parties – the Jersey Democratic Alliance and the Centre Party – in preparation for the 2005 elections. A group called "Elect Jersey 2005" worked to assist some independent candidates prepare for the elections.[8] None of the party-affiliated candidates was successful in the October senatorial elections;[9] three JDA members standing as independents were elected as deputies in November 2005 along with two members of the Centre Party who had similarly stood as independents.[10] The Centre Party was wound up in 2007.

In 2008, legislation was passed to require registration of political parties who wished to endorse candidates for election as a senator, deputy or Connétable.[11]

In the 2008 elections for senators, the JDA fielded two candidates, two candidates stood as members of the campaign group "Jersey 2020" (focusing on environmental issues) and two for "Time4Change/Reform": none was successful.[12] In the subsequent deputies' elections, four JDA candidates were successful,[13] but three of them subsequently left the party and continued to sit as independents.[14] In August 2011, the JDA announced that party members would stand only as independents in the October 2011 elections.[15] A branch of the 'Liberal Democrats Abroad' was formed in the island in November 2011.[16]

On 4 July 2014, Reform Jersey became Jersey's only political party when it was registered in the Royal Court.[17] The party contested the 2014 general election where 3 of their 8 candidates were elected.[18] In 2021, another political party, the Progress Party, was registered. In 2020, the Jersey Liberal Conservatives was registered.[2] In July 2023 the Progress Party was dissolved.[19]

Former parties

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ States of Jersey Policy and Resources Committee (1 December 2000). Report of the Review Panel on the Machinery of Government in Jersey (PDF). St Helier, Jersey: States of Jersey. {{cite book}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  2. ^ a b Morel, Julien (7 January 2022). "Jersey Liberal Conservatives formally launch as political party". Bailiwick Express. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
  3. ^ Le Hérissier, Roy (1972). The Development of the Government of Jersey 1771–1972. St Helier, Jersey: States of Jersey. p. 251. ISBN 0-9501995-1-6.
  4. ^ a b Syvret, Marguerite (2011). Balleine's History of Jersey. The History Press. ISBN 978-1860776502.
  5. ^ Cooper, Glynis (January 2008). Foul Deeds and Suspicious Deaths in Jersey. Casemate Publishers, 2008. ISBN 9781845630683.
  6. ^ Anon (2011). "Norman Le Brocq – Donkipedia". guernsey-society.org.uk. Retrieved 4 September 2011.; Tabb, Peter (2011). "Channel Islands reds / Features / Home – Morning Star". morningstaronline.co.uk. Archived from the original on 1 June 2012. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
  7. ^ Anon (2011). "Party time in December '45". thisisjersey.com. Archived from the original on 28 July 2018. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
  8. ^ McRandle, Harry (16 June 2005). "Top-level meeting on 2005 election". Jersey Evening Post. Archived from the original on 23 February 2020. Retrieved 29 August 2011.; McRandle, Harry (17 June 2005). "Island 'is not ready for party politics'". Jersey Evening Post. Archived from the original on 25 February 2020. Retrieved 29 August 2011.; "Panels are set up to help independents". Jersey Evening Post. 9 August 2005. Archived from the original on 26 February 2020. Retrieved 29 August 2011.
  9. ^ Lewis, Anthony (20 October 2005). "Poll triump for Senator Syvret and independent new commers". Jersey Evening Post. Archived from the original on 12 September 2012. Retrieved 29 August 2011.
  10. ^ Querée, Ben (8 May 2006). "The party's over for the Democratic Alliance". Jersey Evening Post. Archived from the original on 20 February 2020. Retrieved 29 August 2011.
  11. ^ "Political Parties (Registration) (Jersey) Law 2008". Jersey Legal Information Board. Retrieved 29 August 2011.
  12. ^ "Jersey Evening Post Election 2008: senators". Archived from the original on 22 September 2011. Retrieved 29 August 2011.
  13. ^ "Jersey Evening Post Election 2008: St Helier No. 2". Archived from the original on 2 July 2011. Retrieved 29 August 2011.; "Jersey Evening Post Election 2008: St Helier No. 1". Archived from the original on 28 July 2018. Retrieved 29 August 2011.
  14. ^ Querée, Ben (16 August 2010). "Is the party over?". Jersey Evening Post. Archived from the original on 20 August 2010. Retrieved 29 August 2011.
  15. ^ "Jersey Democratic Alliance not standing in elections". BBC News Jersey. 31 August 2011. Retrieved 1 September 2011. and Querée, Ben (3 September 2011). "Last member of the JDA says he'll stand as independent". Jersey Evening Post (Print): 9.
  16. ^ "Lib Dem group to set up in Jersey". This is Jersey. 6 December 2011. Archived from the original on 10 January 2020. Retrieved 4 January 2012.; "Jersey group to open Liberal Democrat branch". BBC News Jersey. BBC. 29 November 2011. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  17. ^ Gruchy, Tom (4 July 2014). "Tom Gruchy: "Reform Jersey" - first political party since 1204 registered on 4 July 2014 in the Royal Court - (Samedi Division on a Friday)". Tomgruchy.blogspot.com. Retrieved 21 April 2019.
  18. ^ "States of Jersey Elections - States of Jersey Elections". Vote.je. Retrieved 21 April 2019.
  19. ^ Heath, Richard (9 July 2023). "Party disbands a year after disappointing election night". Jersey Evening Post. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  20. ^ Green Islands Network Archived 2006-07-27 at the Wayback Machine
  21. ^ Geraint Jennings Archived 2006-08-23 at the Wayback Machine
  22. ^ "Lib Dem group to set up in Jersey". This is Jersey. 6 December 2011. Archived from the original on 4 February 2013. Retrieved 4 January 2012.; "Jersey group to open Liberal Democrat branch". BBC News Jersey. BBC. 29 November 2011. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
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