Jersey Chief Minister: Deputy Lyndon Farnham wins vote

Deputy Lyndon Farnham has been voted in as Chief Minister

Deputy Lyndon Farnham has been voted to replace Deputy Kristina Moore as the Chief Minister Designate in Jersey.

The vote followed Ms Moore losing a vote of no confidence on 16 January by 27 votes to 22.

Deputies Sam Mezec, Ian Gorst and Mr Farnham had all put themselves forward to replace the chief minister.

Mr Farnham was announced as the new Chief Minister after two rounds of voting by the States Assembly on Thursday.

The first round of voting saw Mr Mezec drop out of the race with 10 votes compared to Mr Farnham with 17 and Mr Gorst with 21 and one abstention.

In the second round, Mr Gorst received 22 votes and Mr Farnham received 27 votes.

Mr Farnham said there is a "big job of work to do".

'Inclusive government'

He said: "We've got to try and heal the assembly. I want to put together a government that's inclusive, representing the whole assembly, representing the views of islanders and I want to get on with it.

"My message to islanders is I want to appeal to islanders to try and get behind the assembly a little bit more. I know it's been difficult because we've had a fractured assembly."

He added he wanted to "reassure islanders" he would "give key issues and challenges the highest priority".

The new chief minister will not begin the role immediately and will have to have their chosen Council of Ministers approved first.

It was the first time Mr Farnham has featured on the ballot paper compared to the other candidates.

The new chief minister will not begin the role immediately

Mr Gorst had previously been Chief Minister, running the assembly for two successive terms between 2011 and 2018 and Reform Jersey party leader Mr Mezec ran against Ms Moore in 2022.

There are only two political parties in the island: Reform Jersey, with ten assembly members, and the Jersey Liberal Conservatives, with two assembly members. The other 37 politicians are independents.

Mr Farnham said he would work towards a "more affordable way of life" for islanders, prioritise healthcare, education and affordable housing.

Constable Andy Jehan, who resigned from Ms Moore's council, had previously said he would support Mr Farnham.

He said: "His decision about supporting the hospital plans as they are was key in my decision making, I wouldn't have been able to support him otherwise.

"I believe that he's got the ability to bring people together from all around the house, and I hope that he is successful in doing just that."