Binet To Go For Chief Minister If Confidence Vote Successful

Deputy Tom Binet says he will go for the role of Chief Minister if his bid to oust Deputy Kristina Moore is successful.

He stepped down as Infrastructure Minister yesterday (2 Jan) so that he could lodge his vote of no confidence proposition in the current Chief Minister.

"I think you can't take this course of action without being prepared to put yourself forward for the job."

There have been public tensions between the pair, with email exchanges published in April last year showing that Deputy Binet left a meeting with the Chief Minister feeling 'stressed'.

Deputy Binet says since then, a chain of events has led to him stepping down and launching a challenge to Deputy Moore's leadership.

"The tensions started to emerge when I witnessed the treatment of the former Chief Executive, which was poor at best.

I was annoyed when it was claimed by the Chief Minister that the CEO was going back to Ireland to be with her family, which clearly wasn't the case.

You have to say to yourself that enough is enough and that was the point I reached over Christmas."

Suzanne Wylie handed in her shock resignation in March, after just over 12 months in the job.

Suzanne Wylie

The ability of the Health Minister, Deputy Karen Wilson was also thrown into question again in Deputy Binet's VONC report.

In November, St John Constable Andy Jehan resigned from his role as assistant Chief Minister with a scathing attack on the Health Department.

Deputy Binet believes Deputy Wilson should resign and has thought so 'for some time'.

He told Channel 103 that he is concerned about the future of the New Healthcare Facilities Project now he is no longer the Infrastructure Minister.

"Part of the timing for calling this now is because I waited until the Government Plan had been completed.

£52 million was allocated for the work to carry on until the summer and the next phase, so it does at least give some certainty."

But Chief Minister Deputy Kristina Moore says she has been assured that Deputy Wilson is the best person for the job.

"I believe that Deputy Wilson is leading the change that we are investing in in our health services and doing a great job of building support and confidence in our health professionals.

This is a large change that is needed and it will take time and patience is required."

Health Minister Deputy Karen Wilson

The Chief Minister says that she believes she has the support of the majority of the States Chamber.

"I would never want to be overconfident about anything, and I of course take this extremely seriously.

Having taken a vote of no confidence against the former Chief Minister I understand that it's a process that shouldn't be taken lightly.

I will put my full effort in ensuring that we have, what I believe, would be the right result."

The Vote of No Confidence will take place after politicians come back from the Christmas break on 16 January.