Deputy Tom Binet will support Lyndon Farnham in the race to become Chief Minister.
The former Infrastructure Minister, who instigated the confidence vote that ended Kristina Moore’s tenure, has declared his support for Deputy Farnham.
“Firstly, as soon as it became clear that I was not to be a contender, he contacted me with a serious offer to assist him in shaping an improved future for the people of the island.”
It’s an interesting turn of events, as Deputy Farnham has been a firm critic of the New Healthcare Facilities Programme NHFP, which Deputy Binet had been leading on in his previous ministerial role.
Deputy Farnham used to oversee the project to deliver a new hospital for Jersey, and has long favoured a single site facility at Overdale.
However, addressing what he called the ‘obvious stumbling block’, Deputy Binet says Deputy Farnham has now accepted that the multi-site option is ‘now the only way forward’.
Not only that, but Deputy Binet says a Chief Minister Farnham would return him to his role heading up delivery of the NHFP.
Deputy Farnham - an ex Deputy CM - is going up against former CM Ian Gorst and Reform party leader Sam Mezec for the top job tomorrow ( 25 January)
Of the other two candidates, Deputy Binet says ‘whilst my relationship with Deputy Mezec is very sound, my political position is more centrist which would make support for his leadership slightly difficult'.
He is less complimentary of Deputy Gorst, saying he would not be prepared to work under his leadership:
“On too many occasions Deputy Gorst has failed to call things out and deal with them accordingly when he has known them to be wrong, preferring to paper over the cracks.”
Deputy Gorst had the most signatories (14) of the three men when the nominations were submitted.
However, if there isn’t a clear majority in the first round of voting, the lowest-polling candidate will be eliminated and the remaining two will go head to head.
If that comes down to Gorst v Farnham, the Reform party could become the 'kingmakers'.
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