Jersey States vote in committee and scrutiny panel leaders

The States Assembly has chosen who will act as chairs of its scrutiny panels and committees

Jersey's States Assembly has chosen who will lead its various scrutiny panels and committees for the next four years.

Chief Minister Kristina Moore and her choice of cabinet of ministers were sworn into government on Monday.

All five chairs of the scrutiny panels and three chairs of other committees were chosen on Tuesday.

Deputy Sam Mezec, who stood for chief minister, won the role of chair of Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel by one vote.

He won with 23 votes with constable Mike Jackson receiving 22 votes.

'Critical friend'

To the assembly, Mr Mezec said he wanted to pursue the role so he could hold the chief minister and treasury minister to account.

He said: "I know how to do scrutiny. Scrutiny is not and should never be an exercise in politically partisan point scoring.

"Its approach should not be adversarial. It's meant to be independent, objective and evidence-based, to act as a critical friend of the government."

The following were sworn in as chairs:

• Constable Karen Shenton-Stone as chair of the Privileges and Procedures Committee

• Deputy Lyndsay Feltham as chair of the Public Accounts Committee

• Deputy Sam Mezec as the chair of Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel

• Deputy Moz Scott as chair of Economic and International Affairs Scrutiny Panel

• Deputy Catherine Curtis as chair of Children, Education and Home Affairs Scrutiny Panel

• Deputy Steve Luce as chair of Environment, Housing and Infrastructure Scrutiny Panel

• Deputy Geoff Southern as chair of Health and Social Security Scrutiny Panel

• Constable Philip Le Sueur as chair of the Planning Committee

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