Jersey chief minister and cabinet sworn into office

Jersey's new Chief Minister Kristina Moore and her choice of cabinet of ministers have been sworn into government.

Ms Moore asked the States Assembly to agree to her nominations for ministerial roles on Monday.

All eleven states members Ms Moore nominated were elected to form the Council of Ministers.

Five chairs of scrutiny panels and three chairs of other committees will be chosen on Tuesday.

Those standing pitched their reasons and objective for the role, with only Deputy Andy Howell challenging nominated Deputy Karen Wilson for the role of health minister.

Ms Wilson won with 27 votes opposed to Ms Howell's 9, with 12 members of the state assembly abstaining.

Deputy Ian Gorst, who was the external relations minister during the last political term, has become the new treasury minister.

He said his priority would be to prepare a mini budget to help support islanders with the cost of living.

He said: "The cost of living and housing crisis will be treasury's number one priority, closely followed by getting a grip on the government and States finances.

"During the election campaign the voters who I spoke to were clear in their view that state spending had increased to an unsustainable rate."

Deputy Inna Gardiner was sworn in as the island's children and education minister, saying the community was "stronger when educated".

She said: "A well-rounded education makes a positive difference to the lives of children, young people, their families, carers and our community as a whole, their future is our collective future.

"We must provide support to ensure educational recovery and wellbeing recovery for all Jersey children after the pandemic".

Ms Gardiner said she intended to appoint deputy Louise Doublet and constable Richard Vibert as assistant ministers.

Deputy David Warr, the newly elected housing minister, said the issue of housing had gone "terribly wrong".

"Housing is an existential problem for this island. If we get the policies wrong we directly affect people's health, our economy, our quality of life and our children's future, something has gone terribly wrong," he said.

The new economic development minister deputy Kirsten Morel said: "Jersey is pricing itself out of the market, the cost of living is rising so steeply.

"It's the job of government to provide the right conditions to enable Jersey's companies and social enterprises to thrive... we can develop a socially and environmentally sustainable economy able to support all islanders throughout our lives."

Deputy Helen Miles, minister of home affairs, said the island still had a way to go.

"We will work towards a society that respects everyone and where we all feel safe, wherever we are and whenever that is," she said.

"We are a small island and I believe this is a wholly achievable objective, but we're not there yet."

Deputy Labey, minister of international developments, said: "In appointing an International Development Minister, Jersey sends out a powerful signal around the world.

"It says we are serious about our commitment to others and about being a good global citizen."

The following have been sworn in to the Council of Ministers:

Moore's Ministers. Kristina's cabinet. Call it what you want, Deputy Moore's government has been formed - and despite a challenge for the role of health minister, she didn't have to make any concessions whatsoever.

It gives the new Chief Minister the best possible chance of pushing through her agenda, throughout her first 100 days and beyond.

But how long will the honeymoon period last?

Just four of the 12 members of Jersey's new government have held ministerial roles in the past. Six of the 12 were only elected to the States Assembly for the first time under three weeks ago.

Some islanders will welcome the prospect of a fresh approach. Others will worry that when big decisions need to be made - and be under no illusion, big decisions will be required - this Council of Ministers could lack the frontline experience necessary to make them.

After an election which saw sitting ministers lose their seats, and more women elected than ever before, there have also been some questions about how much change this government actually represents.

The inclusion of Deputies Ian Gorst and Philp Ozouf, in particular, have led some islanders to suggest it could simply be a re-packaged version of the Council of Ministers which led Jersey from 2014-2018.

Of course, there's one major difference: Deputy Kristina Moore is now in charge. She's pledged to bring people together, and work collaboratively.

With a top team now in place, it's time for actions to replace words.

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