Last September, I visited my old primary school, La Moye, for Democracy Week, with another St Brelade colleague, Deputy Renouf. As always, the pupils asked excellent questions. ‘What made you get into politics?’ was one of them. It’s a fair question - one we are frequently asked! I told them ‘There are generally two types of politicians: those who want to change things and those who want to keep things the same. I went into politics because there were things I thought needed changing.’ And I still do.
Of course, things are a bit more nuanced than that. As politicians we always need to ask: does it work, can it be improved, and if so, how?
In Jersey, there are many positives: It’s very safe with a great community spirit, short commutes to work, and beautiful walks, beaches and countryside. These are all things that make Jersey a great place to live. Things we still need to work on include, improving healthcare, shortening waiting lists, creating more opportunities for young people, providing better support for older people and addressing the high cost of living.
Jersey is becoming a more expensive place to live. Electricity and gas prices soared by nearly 20% in 2024 - 2025, while incomes for workers and pensioners have not kept pace. The Economic and International Affairs Scrutiny Panel, which I chair, is considering energy pricing as one potential area for review. If you have thoughts on this, you can contact the Panel at scrutiny@gov.je or by calling 01534 441020.
As always, I would be pleased to hear from you about any other issues that are important to you, so please drop me a line, give me call, or come and see me at one of my drop-in sessions.
