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Morel and Kersten given roles in new government

BBC A man with short brown hair and glasses, wearing a navy blue suit, light shift and dark pink tie. He is staring directly at the camera, while standing outside Jersey's States chamber.BBC
Deputy Kirsten Morel has been appointed as an assistant minister for the Environment

Assistant ministers have been appointed to Jersey's new government - with former England netball captain Serena Kersten and former Minister for Sustainable Development Kirsten Morel among the politicians to be given roles.

It means the new Council of Ministers will include 11 members of the former government, alongside 10 new faces.

While it was required earlier this week to sign off on each ministerial role, the States Assembly does not need to approve the appointment of assistant ministers.

However, as assembly rules dictate no more than 21 of Jersey's 49 States Members can join the government, some of the members of the new Council of Ministers will hold multiple positions.

From economy to environment

After a political term in which he was involved in the high-profile decision to choose Danish firm DFDS as Jersey's ferry provider, following the election, Morel was not proposed by Chief Minister Lyndon Farnham for a full ministerial position.

Instead, Farnham proposed newly-elected deputy Gerald Voisin, who endorsed the principles of political movement Value Jersey, as his pick for the role of minister for Sustainable Economic Development.

But Morel will now return as an assistant minister for the Environment, it has been confirmed.

Mark Boleat will temporarily join him as an assistant minister in that department, which will be led by Mary Le Hegarat.

Subject to States approval, however, Boleat will on 14 July become the minister for Planning and Regulation - a new position.

Officials said Phil Romeril, who co-founded Value Jersey, would at that point be named as Boleat's assistant minister.

A woman with curly brown hair, wearing a white blouse. She has a pair of sunglasses on her head and a flower tucked behind her left ear. She is staring directly at the camera and smiling. Behind her are a number of hanging baskets with flowers in them, plus bunting with Jersey flags.
In her first term, Serena Kersten becomes an assistant minister in two departments - plus the politician responsible for sport

Meanwhile, after finishing fifth in the island-wide vote last month, first-term politician Kersten has been appointed as an assistant minister in two departments: infrastructure and education and lifelong learning.

It has also been confirmed that the Jersey-born athlete - who played at three World Cups and two Commonwealth Games, and won gold in Australia in 2018 - will now hold political responsibility for sport.

It comes after Kersten - who was one of a number of candidates to align with political movement, Value Jersey - campaigned on issues including the cost of living, preventative healthcare and childcare provision.

Her pitch to voters also drew heavily on her sporting success, with references to "winning and losing", teamwork and performance featuring prominently in her manifesto.

A man with short grey hair, wearing a navy blue suit, white shirt and blue tie. He is staring directly at the camera and smiling. The Royal Court is visible behind him.
The assistant ministerial appointments were approved by Lyndon Farnham, ahead of the first full meeting of Jersey's new government

Also appointed as assistant ministers are Lucy Stephenson, who was a member of Kristina Moore's government; and first-term deputy Robert Parker, who described himself in his manifesto as "an early supporter of Value Jersey".

Rose Binet and Andy Howell both return to the assistant minister for health and social services roles they held before the election.

"I have endeavoured to form a government that reflects the breadth of skills, views and experience in the States Assembly, and one that has the capability and drive to make improvements that islanders have called for during the election," said Farnham, after approving the various appointments.

He said that the new Council of Ministers had met for the first time on Thursday, 2 July, and that its members had "renewed their commitment to constructive government and to tackling the key issues quickly and effectively, with particular emphasis on housing and affordability".

He added: "The was a collective desire to commence work immediately."

Jersey's new government

Chief Minister

  • Lyndon Farnham

External Relations

  • Minister: Ian Gorst
  • Assistant Ministers: Elaine Millar and Carolyn Labey

Health and Social Services

  • Minister: Tom Binet
  • Assistant Ministers: Rose Binet and Andy Howell

Justice and Home Affairs

  • Minister: Helen Miles
  • Assistant Minister: Lucy Stephenson

Social Security

  • Minister: Elaine Millar
  • Assistant Minister: Phil Romeril

Children and Families

  • Minister: Richard Vibert
  • Assistant Ministers: Catherine Curtis and Malcolm Ferey

Education and Lifelong Learning

  • Minister: Catherine Curtis
  • Assistant Ministers: Serena Kersten, Lucy Stephenson and Mark Boleat

Environment

  • Minister: Mary Le Hegarat
  • Assistant Ministers: Mark Boleat (temporary) and Kirsten Morel

Housing

  • Minister: Malcolm Ferey
  • Assistant Minister: Elaine Millar

Infrastructure

  • Minister: Jonathan Renouf
  • Assistant Minister: Serena Kersten

International Development

  • Minister: Carolyn Labey
  • Assistant Minister: None

Sustainable Economic Development

  • Minister: Gerald Voisin
  • Assistant Minister: Phil Romeril

Treasury and Resources

  • Minister: Alan Maclean
  • Assistant Ministers: Ian Gorst and Robert Parker

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