Norman Le Brocq
Encyclopedia
Norman Le Brocq was a Jersey
politician.
, and was one of the founding members of the Jersey Democratic Movement, a communist party
, which by the end of the war in 1945 had grown to 18. The JDM helped to provide support, information and sustenance to the slave workers brought by the Germans over to Jersey from Russia
. In 1966, Le Brocq and 19 other islanders were awarded gold watches by the Soviet Union as a sign of gratitude for their role in the resistance movement.
He was a campaigner for working class rights in the field of housing and social policy, and the Communist Party’s leading figure in the Islands. After unsuccessful bids for election in the 1960s, he was elected to the States of Jersey
in 1966, which was such a remarkable event that it was noted in the British press - "Working man joins the rulers of Jersey" (Observer 18.12.1966). He remained in the States as a Deputy for Saint Helier
until his retirement.
He was president of the Island Development Committee (IDC) and instrumental in bringing in the first Island Plan, which laid out zones
for housing and commercial development and green field sites on which development was not permitted. He was also chairman of the Sea Fisheries Advisory Committee, and a Sea Fisheries vessel is named after him.
Outside of the States, he was a director of the Channel Islands Co-operative Society
for 35 years, and its President for 27 of those.
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...
politician.
Biography
He participated in the resistance to German occupation in the Second World WarOccupation of the Channel Islands
The Channel Islands were occupied by Nazi Germany for much of World War II, from 30 June 1940 until the liberation on 9 May 1945. The Channel Islands are two British Crown dependencies and include the bailiwicks of Guernsey and Jersey as well as the smaller islands of Alderney and Sark...
, and was one of the founding members of the Jersey Democratic Movement, a communist party
Communist Party of Jersey
The Communist Party of Jersey, a political party on the island of Jersey. The CPJ seems to have had a semi-autonomous relation to the Communist Party of Great Britain....
, which by the end of the war in 1945 had grown to 18. The JDM helped to provide support, information and sustenance to the slave workers brought by the Germans over to Jersey from Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. In 1966, Le Brocq and 19 other islanders were awarded gold watches by the Soviet Union as a sign of gratitude for their role in the resistance movement.
He was a campaigner for working class rights in the field of housing and social policy, and the Communist Party’s leading figure in the Islands. After unsuccessful bids for election in the 1960s, he was 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 1966, which was such a remarkable event that it was noted in the British press - "Working man joins the rulers of Jersey" (Observer 18.12.1966). He remained in the States as a Deputy for Saint 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...
until his retirement.
He was president of the Island Development Committee (IDC) and instrumental in bringing in the first Island Plan, which laid out zones
Zoning
Zoning is a device of land use planning used by local governments in most developed countries. The word is derived from the practice of designating permitted uses of land based on mapped zones which separate one set of land uses from another...
for housing and commercial development and green field sites on which development was not permitted. He was also chairman of the Sea Fisheries Advisory Committee, and a Sea Fisheries vessel is named after him.
Outside of the States, he was a director of the Channel Islands Co-operative Society
Channel Islands Co-operative Society
The Channel Islands' Co-operative Society Limited is a consumer co-operative. It is a registered Industrial and Provident Society, a member of the Co-operative Union Ltd. in the United Kingdom, the Co-operative Retail Trading Group, the Co-operative Travel Trading Group and a corporate member of...
for 35 years, and its President for 27 of those.
Social Policies
In "Jersey Looks Forward" (1946), he enumerated the political and social policies towards which he fought, many of which were later adopted by the States of Jersey. These included:- States members to receive adequate remuneration
- A modern equitable divorce law
- An augmented paid Police Force acting over the whole Island
- Compulsory health insurance
- Compulsory free education to the age of 16
- A maximum working week
- A minimum wage