Jersey Democratic Alliance
Encyclopedia
The Jersey Democratic Alliance is Jersey
's only registered political party. JDA candidates contested general elections in 2005 and 2008
but announced in August 2011 that it would not be fielding candidates in the October 2011
elections.
political party. Its stated aims and objectives in 2011 were:
In December 2006 the JDA presented an extensive and detailed proposal for electoral reform, to tackle Jersey's lack of political engagement among the general public.
In February 2007 the JDA released their environmental policy, with a general moderate green outlook, and addressing Jersey's outdated approaches to waste disposal and building insulation in particular
On the 12th July 2007 the JDA teamed up with the Jersey Chamber of Commerce and the Jersey Hospitality Association to address concerns over the introduction of Goods and Services Tax (GST) planned for April 2008, they also issued a statement on the planned 'Zero-Ten' corporate tax rates.
headed by a Chief Minister
in place of a committee-based system of administration.
The party was launched in April 2005 at a mass rally of 1,000 people held at Fort Regent, with the intention of fielding candidates in the 2005 elections of senators and deputies to the States of Jersey
. The JDA's founder was Senator Ted Vibert
, a returned expatriate and veteran activist in the Australian Labor Party
who had been elected to the States of Jersey
in February 2003. In June 2005, however, Vibert announced that on medical advice he would not be standing for re-election in the October 2005 election. His successor as head of the party, Tony Keogh (a retired rector of Trinity
), also stepped down on medical advice. In June 2005, Geoff Southern
was elected as party leader. Some members, including Senator Paul Le Claire
feared that under Southern the JDA would move too far to the left, and formed the Centre Party
. At the JDA's inaugural annual general meeting in July 2005, Southern said that "the party would continue to maintain the centre ground of politics despite claims from a breakaway group that the alliance had moved to the left under his leadership". The JDA launched its manifesto to a crowd of 150 people in People's Park in September 2005.
Following a poor performance in the 2005 elections, Steve Pallet replaced Geoff Southern
as party leader and in 2006 the JDA announced that it would relaunch itself as a political pressure group rather than continue as a political party. In 2007, the JDA was awarded a grant of £27,805 from the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust, a political body that promotes democratic reform and social justice, "to ensure that the people of Jersey have the opportunity to vote for an opposition party that would scrutinise the government".
In 2008, the JDA distanced itself from the pressure group Time4Change.
Following the 2008 elections
, two successful JDA candidates — Geoff Southern
and Shona Pitman — were charged with breaching Article 39A of the Public Elections (Jersey) Law 2002, which prohibits a candidate or representative from interfering with a person's application for registration to vote. Southern and Pitman had opposed the introduction of this law when it was debated in the States assembly
in 2008. He said he would "continue to assist people who ask me to help them fill in the form … I am among those who may well be prosecuted under the bureaucratic nonsense of a piece of law" and she said "… if this [the prohibition created by Article 39A] goes through as law I will ignore it and continue with collecting these postal votes". On 20 February 2009, Pitman and Southern pleaded guilty in Magistrate's Court to breaking the law "by assisting about 70 elderly, infirm or busy people to complete a postal vote application form in the election and/or delivering their completed forms" and they were committed to the Royal Court for sentencing. In mitigation their advocate submitted that the law infringed the human rights of the disabled and infirm to take part in the electoral process and the debate on Article 39A in the States had been flawed. Southern was sentenced to a fine of £10,000 and Pitman to a fine of £2,000. The party launched a "Fund for Justice" for people to make contributions towards the fines and court costs.
In the summer of 2010, Vibert returned as honorary president of the party, having plans to move the JDA "from the left to the centre ground of Jersey politics".
Deputies Pitman, Pitman and de Sousa resigned from the JDA, along with the party's deputy chairman David Rotherham, in August 2010. In the run-up to the October 2011
elections, the three deputies continued to sit as independents, leaving Southern
as the only member of the States assembly
formally affiliated to a political party.
In May 2011, Vibert resigned as party leader, citing policy differences.
In August 2011, Southern announced that he would be standing as an independent in the October 2011
elections.
and Denise Carroll stood as JDA candidates in elections for six vacant Senator seats in the States of Jersey
. Both were unsuccessful, polling 10th and 13th of the fifteen candidates. In the subsequent elections for Deputies, the JDA followed the Centre Party
in announcing that JDA members seeking election would do so as independents.
In January 2008, JDA candidate Alvin Aaron was unsuccessful in his attempt to unseat Simon Crowcroft, the incumbent Connétable
of St Helier.
In 2008
, Geoff Southern
and Trevor Pitman stood as JDA candidates for the six vacant Senator seats. They failed to be elected, Southern finishing in 7th place and Pitman finishing 11th out of 21 candidates. In the subsequent elections for Deputies, the JDA achieved its greatest electoral success, with four of its five candidates elected. Geoff Southern
, Shona Pitman and Debbie de Sousa took all three seats in the St Helier
No. 2 constituency and Trevor Pitman gained one of the three seats in the St Helier
No. 1 constituency. JDA candidate Christine Papworth was unsuccessful in St Saviour
No.1.
In June 2010, Southern
stood in a by-election for a vacant senatorial seat, finishing fifth out of nine candidates.
Jersey
Jersey, officially the Bailiwick of Jersey is a British Crown Dependency off the coast of Normandy, France. As well as the island of Jersey itself, the bailiwick includes two groups of small islands that are no longer permanently inhabited, the Minquiers and Écréhous, and the Pierres de Lecq and...
's only registered political party. JDA candidates contested general elections in 2005 and 2008
Jersey general election, 2008
The Jersey general election, 2008 was a series of elections that were taking place in two stages in October and November 2008 in Jersey.- Constable elections :...
but announced in August 2011 that it would not be fielding candidates in the October 2011
Jersey general election, 2011
General elections for the States of Jersey will be held in Jersey on 19 October 2011, and for the first time Senators, Deputies and Constables will be elected on a single day in Jersey. This will reduce the number of members of the States of Jersey from 53 to 51...
elections.
Party ideology and policies
The JDA is centre-leftCentre-left
Centre-left is a political term that describes individuals, political parties or organisations such as think tanks whose ideology lies between the centre and the left on the left-right spectrum...
political party. Its stated aims and objectives in 2011 were:
- "Government in Jersey should be open, honest and transparent."
- "The public interest will be paramount at all times."
- "Government in Jersey will be open, honest and transparent."
- "Trade unions will be recognised as an important part of Jersey society."
- "The role of States members is to do the greatest good for the greatest number."
- "The JDA believes that Jersey is a special place with unique lawsLaw of JerseyThe Law of Jersey has been influenced by several different legal traditions, in particular Norman customary law, English common law and modern French civil law. The Bailiwick of Jersey is a separate jurisdiction from that of the United Kingdom, and is also distinct from that of the other Channel...
and customs, countryside, traditions, language and privileges and that these must be preserved and maintained when it is clear that their retention is appropriate." - "To ensure that policies put forward promote the values enshrined in the European Convention of Human Rights.
- "We have now added to those our number one aim which is to reform the StatesStates of JerseyThe States of Jersey is the parliament and government of Jersey.The Assembly of the States of Jersey has exercised legislative powers since 1771, when law-making power was transferred from the Royal Court of Jersey....
along the principles of Clothier."
In December 2006 the JDA presented an extensive and detailed proposal for electoral reform, to tackle Jersey's lack of political engagement among the general public.
In February 2007 the JDA released their environmental policy, with a general moderate green outlook, and addressing Jersey's outdated approaches to waste disposal and building insulation in particular
On the 12th July 2007 the JDA teamed up with the Jersey Chamber of Commerce and the Jersey Hospitality Association to address concerns over the introduction of Goods and Services Tax (GST) planned for April 2008, they also issued a statement on the planned 'Zero-Ten' corporate tax rates.
History
The JDA was formed in the spring of 2005 in response to constitutional reforms due to be introduced in December 2005, when the States of Jersey Law 2005 implemented recommendations of the Clothier review by creating a system of ministerial government—with Council of MinistersCouncil of Ministers of Jersey
The Council of Ministers is the collective institution of executive government in Jersey. The Council co-ordinates policies and administration, especially policy affecting two or more ministers, prioritises executive and legislative proposals, and presents a "Strategic Plan for Jersey" for approval...
headed by a Chief Minister
Chief Minister of Jersey
The Chief Minister of Jersey is the head of government of Jersey. The head of government is not directly elected by the people but rather by the legislature ....
in place of a committee-based system of administration.
The party was launched in April 2005 at a mass rally of 1,000 people held at Fort Regent, with the intention of fielding candidates in the 2005 elections of senators and deputies to the States of Jersey
States of Jersey
The States of Jersey is the parliament and government of Jersey.The Assembly of the States of Jersey has exercised legislative powers since 1771, when law-making power was transferred from the Royal Court of Jersey....
. The JDA's founder was Senator Ted Vibert
Ted Vibert
Ted Vibert was a politician in the States of Jersey from 1999 to 2005.- Biography :Ted Vibert was born on 10 June 1938, at Grosnez, St Ouen, Jersey.He went to the States Intermediate school, then was one of the first intake to Hautlieu School...
, a returned expatriate and veteran activist in the Australian Labor Party
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
who had been elected to the States of Jersey
States of Jersey
The States of Jersey is the parliament and government of Jersey.The Assembly of the States of Jersey has exercised legislative powers since 1771, when law-making power was transferred from the Royal Court of Jersey....
in February 2003. In June 2005, however, Vibert announced that on medical advice he would not be standing for re-election in the October 2005 election. His successor as head of the party, Tony Keogh (a retired rector of Trinity
Trinity, Jersey
Trinity is one of the twelve parishes of Jersey in the Channel Islands. It is in the north east of the island.Trinity has the reputation of being the most rural of Jersey's parishes, being the third-largest parish by surface area with the third-smallest population. The parish covers 6,817 vergées...
), also stepped down on medical advice. In June 2005, Geoff Southern
Geoff Southern
Geoff Southern is a Jersey politician. He has been a deputy in the States of Jersey since 2002 and has chaired two scrutiny panels.- Biography :...
was elected as party leader. Some members, including Senator Paul Le Claire
Paul Le Claire
Paul Vincent Le Claire was a member of the States of Jersey from 1999 to 2011. He represented the Saint Helier District No.1 constituency and between 1999 and 2005 had an island-wide mandate as a Senator.-Biography:He was born in 1963 in Jersey...
feared that under Southern the JDA would move too far to the left, and formed the Centre Party
Centre Party (Jersey)
-Party ideology and policies:In the 2005 elections, the Centre Party's policies were:*Against the proposed 3% Goods and Services Tax *Against the continuation of the 20% income tax*Abolish the Vehicle Registration Duty for smaller cars...
. At the JDA's inaugural annual general meeting in July 2005, Southern said that "the party would continue to maintain the centre ground of politics despite claims from a breakaway group that the alliance had moved to the left under his leadership". The JDA launched its manifesto to a crowd of 150 people in People's Park in September 2005.
Following a poor performance in the 2005 elections, Steve Pallet replaced Geoff Southern
Geoff Southern
Geoff Southern is a Jersey politician. He has been a deputy in the States of Jersey since 2002 and has chaired two scrutiny panels.- Biography :...
as party leader and in 2006 the JDA announced that it would relaunch itself as a political pressure group rather than continue as a political party. In 2007, the JDA was awarded a grant of £27,805 from the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust, a political body that promotes democratic reform and social justice, "to ensure that the people of Jersey have the opportunity to vote for an opposition party that would scrutinise the government".
In 2008, the JDA distanced itself from the pressure group Time4Change.
Following the 2008 elections
Jersey general election, 2008
The Jersey general election, 2008 was a series of elections that were taking place in two stages in October and November 2008 in Jersey.- Constable elections :...
, two successful JDA candidates — Geoff Southern
Geoff Southern
Geoff Southern is a Jersey politician. He has been a deputy in the States of Jersey since 2002 and has chaired two scrutiny panels.- Biography :...
and Shona Pitman — were charged with breaching Article 39A of the Public Elections (Jersey) Law 2002, which prohibits a candidate or representative from interfering with a person's application for registration to vote. Southern and Pitman had opposed the introduction of this law when it was debated in the States assembly
States of Jersey
The States of Jersey is the parliament and government of Jersey.The Assembly of the States of Jersey has exercised legislative powers since 1771, when law-making power was transferred from the Royal Court of Jersey....
in 2008. He said he would "continue to assist people who ask me to help them fill in the form … I am among those who may well be prosecuted under the bureaucratic nonsense of a piece of law" and she said "… if this [the prohibition created by Article 39A] goes through as law I will ignore it and continue with collecting these postal votes". On 20 February 2009, Pitman and Southern pleaded guilty in Magistrate's Court to breaking the law "by assisting about 70 elderly, infirm or busy people to complete a postal vote application form in the election and/or delivering their completed forms" and they were committed to the Royal Court for sentencing. In mitigation their advocate submitted that the law infringed the human rights of the disabled and infirm to take part in the electoral process and the debate on Article 39A in the States had been flawed. Southern was sentenced to a fine of £10,000 and Pitman to a fine of £2,000. The party launched a "Fund for Justice" for people to make contributions towards the fines and court costs.
In the summer of 2010, Vibert returned as honorary president of the party, having plans to move the JDA "from the left to the centre ground of Jersey politics".
Deputies Pitman, Pitman and de Sousa resigned from the JDA, along with the party's deputy chairman David Rotherham, in August 2010. In the run-up to the October 2011
Jersey general election, 2011
General elections for the States of Jersey will be held in Jersey on 19 October 2011, and for the first time Senators, Deputies and Constables will be elected on a single day in Jersey. This will reduce the number of members of the States of Jersey from 53 to 51...
elections, the three deputies continued to sit as independents, leaving Southern
Geoff Southern
Geoff Southern is a Jersey politician. He has been a deputy in the States of Jersey since 2002 and has chaired two scrutiny panels.- Biography :...
as the only member of the States assembly
States of Jersey
The States of Jersey is the parliament and government of Jersey.The Assembly of the States of Jersey has exercised legislative powers since 1771, when law-making power was transferred from the Royal Court of Jersey....
formally affiliated to a political party.
In May 2011, Vibert resigned as party leader, citing policy differences.
In August 2011, Southern announced that he would be standing as an independent in the October 2011
Jersey general election, 2011
General elections for the States of Jersey will be held in Jersey on 19 October 2011, and for the first time Senators, Deputies and Constables will be elected on a single day in Jersey. This will reduce the number of members of the States of Jersey from 53 to 51...
elections.
Electoral performance
In 2005, Geoff SouthernGeoff Southern
Geoff Southern is a Jersey politician. He has been a deputy in the States of Jersey since 2002 and has chaired two scrutiny panels.- Biography :...
and Denise Carroll stood as JDA candidates in elections for six vacant Senator seats in the States of Jersey
States of Jersey
The States of Jersey is the parliament and government of Jersey.The Assembly of the States of Jersey has exercised legislative powers since 1771, when law-making power was transferred from the Royal Court of Jersey....
. Both were unsuccessful, polling 10th and 13th of the fifteen candidates. In the subsequent elections for Deputies, the JDA followed the Centre Party
Centre Party (Jersey)
-Party ideology and policies:In the 2005 elections, the Centre Party's policies were:*Against the proposed 3% Goods and Services Tax *Against the continuation of the 20% income tax*Abolish the Vehicle Registration Duty for smaller cars...
in announcing that JDA members seeking election would do so as independents.
- In St Helier No.1 constituency, serving Deputy Judy Martin retained her seat
- In St Helier No.2, serving Deptuy Geoff SouthernGeoff SouthernGeoff Southern is a Jersey politician. He has been a deputy in the States of Jersey since 2002 and has chaired two scrutiny panels.- Biography :...
was re-elected and newcomer Shona Pitman topped the poll - In St Helier No.3 and 4, Denise Carroll was finished 5th and so failed to gain one of the four seats
- In St BreladeSaint Brélade, JerseySaint Brélade is one of the twelve parishes of the Bailiwick of Jersey. Its population is around 9,560, and it occupies the southwestern part of the island. It is the only parish to border only one other parish, St. Peter...
No.2, Steve Pallett was not elected.
In January 2008, JDA candidate Alvin Aaron was unsuccessful in his attempt to unseat Simon Crowcroft, the incumbent Connétable
Connétable
Connétables in Jersey and Guernsey are the elected heads of the Parishes. They are often called 'constables' in English. The constables are entitled each to carry a silver-tipped baton of office.- Jersey :...
of St Helier.
In 2008
Jersey general election, 2008
The Jersey general election, 2008 was a series of elections that were taking place in two stages in October and November 2008 in Jersey.- Constable elections :...
, Geoff Southern
Geoff Southern
Geoff Southern is a Jersey politician. He has been a deputy in the States of Jersey since 2002 and has chaired two scrutiny panels.- Biography :...
and Trevor Pitman stood as JDA candidates for the six vacant Senator seats. They failed to be elected, Southern finishing in 7th place and Pitman finishing 11th out of 21 candidates. In the subsequent elections for Deputies, the JDA achieved its greatest electoral success, with four of its five candidates elected. Geoff Southern
Geoff Southern
Geoff Southern is a Jersey politician. He has been a deputy in the States of Jersey since 2002 and has chaired two scrutiny panels.- Biography :...
, Shona Pitman and Debbie de Sousa took all three seats in the St Helier
Saint Helier
Saint Helier is one of the twelve parishes of Jersey, the largest of the Channel Islands in the English Channel. St. Helier has a population of about 28,000, roughly 31.2% of the total population of Jersey, and is the capital of the Island . The urban area of the parish of St...
No. 2 constituency and Trevor Pitman gained one of the three seats in the St Helier
Saint Helier
Saint Helier is one of the twelve parishes of Jersey, the largest of the Channel Islands in the English Channel. St. Helier has a population of about 28,000, roughly 31.2% of the total population of Jersey, and is the capital of the Island . The urban area of the parish of St...
No. 1 constituency. JDA candidate Christine Papworth was unsuccessful in St Saviour
Saint Saviour, Jersey
-Notable sites:*Highlands College*De La Salle College*St. Michael's Preparatory School*Hautlieu School*Grainville Cricket Ground*Grainville School*Jersey Evening Post offices and printing works-External links:**...
No.1.
In June 2010, Southern
Geoff Southern
Geoff Southern is a Jersey politician. He has been a deputy in the States of Jersey since 2002 and has chaired two scrutiny panels.- Biography :...
stood in a by-election for a vacant senatorial seat, finishing fifth out of nine candidates.