Centre Party (Jersey)

Infobox Jersey Political Party
party_name = Centre Party
party_articletitle = Centre Party (Jersey)
party_
party_wikicolourid = CPJ
logo_name = Centre Party Logo
leader = Democratic
chairman = Roger Benest
ceo = Darius Pearce
foundation = 2005-2007
ideology = Liberal conservatism
Political Compass = Centre-right, Liberal
colours = Purple & White
headquarters =
website = see the Jersey Conservative Party
european = None
international = None

Formation

The Centre Party is a recently developed political party in Jersey. It formed in 2005, in advance of changes to the system of government in Jersey from a committee to a ministerial system of government. Its first chairman was Larry Adams. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/jersey/4717065.stm BBC NEWS | World | Europe | Jersey | Party's members to choose chief ] ]

In 2006 the Centre Party renewed its commitment to instituting change in Jersey. At the 2006 Annual Meeting, Roger Benest was elected to serve as chairman with Larry Adams taking the role of Deputy Chairman. The party further indicated that it would support candidates in the 2008 Senatorial elections and renewed its commitment to implement its policies.

Policies at the 2005 Elections

The party was middle-of-road in terms of the left-right was right-of-centre by being against the island's many monopolies such as over electricity, gas, telecommunications & dairy products and to allow right-to-buy over state-owned housing.

*Against the proposed 3% Goods and Services Tax (GST)
*Against the continuation of the 20% income tax
*Abolish the Vehicle Registration Duty for smaller cars
*Would like to introduce a pay-as-you-earn (PAYE) system of income taxation
*Would like to introduce a Manx-style immigration policy
*Would like to introduced right-to-buy for State tenants.
*Encourage fish-farming and organic farming
*Encourage the use of renewable energy
*Give the right for British legal staff to work in Jersey Courts [ [http://www.jerseylegalinfo.je/LawStudents/PastPapers/PastPapersOct2005/05-10_Jersey_Legal_System.aspx Jersey Law | Students | Past Papers | October 2005 ] ]
*Separation of the spheres of executive and judicial areas.
*Reduce the number of Civil Service Departments [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/jersey/4282824.stm BBC NEWS | World | Europe | Jersey | Party looks to streamline States ] ]

Election results

enator

In the 2005 elections two Centre Party candidates were nominated for Senator. Neither was successful, with sitting Senator Paul Le Claire polled 8th with 5,413 votes, losing his seat. His fellow unsuccessful Senatorial candidate was Kevin Lewis who polled 10th with 5,028 votes [ [http://www.bbc.co.uk/jersey/my_island/election_2005/live/index.shtml BBC - Jersey - About Jersey - Election Results Live ] ] .

Deputy

The party announced that due to the difference in nature of Jersey Senatorial and Deputy elections, the Centre Party would not propose candidates for Deputy elections. A move which was followed by the Jersey Democratic Alliance shortly thereafter.

A number of party members contested the 2005 elections for Deputy as independents [ [http://www.electjersey2005.com/content/74/index.html Elect Jersey 2005 - Independent Thinking - When is a party not a party? ] ] and both Senatorial candidates were duly elected, although Deputy Le Claire indicated he would step down from being active in the party.

Re-naming

In 2007, the party announced that it would ballot its members on whether;
*To become the Jersey Conservative Party
*To become the Jersey Liberal Party
*How closely it should seek to affiliate to a United Kingdom party

It was announced on 20 July 2007 that the Centre Party would contest the next elections as the Jersey Conservative Party [Jersey Evening Post, 20 July 2007] .

References