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Binet: 'It Was A Stupid Mistake'

Ex-Infrastructure Minister Deputy Tom Binet has admitted he 'paid the price' for missing the deadline for Chef Minister nominations.

Despite calling the vote of no confidence and successfully ousting Chief Minister Deputy Kristina Moore, Deputy Binet missed out on running for the top job by around five minutes.

Deputy Binet was waiting for one of two people to confirm they would back him when he thought he had five signatures, when he in fact had the required six.

The ex-Minister told Channel 103 'it was just a stupid mistake' and he 'messed it up, and that was that'.

"I didn't realise I had six, and it's simply because it wasn't nice and leisurely with six people lined up behind you.

I was trying to pass the form around whilst listening to the (States) debate on trees.

The other candidates weren't even in the debate. They just went off.

I tried to do my job, but as I said, I was really tired, got into a state of confusion and went away with the mental picture that I had five.

The truth is, Gorst would have had his [vision] from last time, and I think Lyndon Farnham must've got some help."

A user on X, formerly Twitter, noticed Deputy Lyndon Farnham's vision statement was submitted with former Chief Minister Deputy John Le Fondre named as the document's author.

He clarified that it was all his work, but he had sent his statement to Mr Le Fondre and other deputies.

"I sent my vision statement to John and half a dozen other members for advice and feedback.

John kindly formatted it all into one Word Document and sent it back to me."

Despite Deputy Binet's failed attempt to compete to lead the government, he says Deputies Lyndon Farnham and Ian Gorst have offered him jobs.

However, he says he's not sure if he'd want to return to government, or who he would be supporting in the election.

"I think there is a role on offer, but nothing has been decided yet.

There are a lot of discussions going on so it will probably take a day or two before any of that is sorted through."

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