Chief Minister Crowcroft?

[Jason the Maverick]

"It's understood the Constable of St Helier will announce today that he's standing for Chief Minister in Jersey.

Earlier this month Simon Crowcroft stated he wouldn't put himself forward for the position because he wanted to devote his time to the parish.

It's believed Constable Crowcroft has now had a change of heart and will be looking for support in his attempt to get the top political job".

[plus_ca_change]

"It's understood the Constable of St Helier will announce today that he's standing for Chief Minister in Jersey.

Earlier this month Simon Crowcroft stated he wouldn't put himself forward for the position because he wanted to devote his time to the parish.

It's believed Constable Crowcroft has now had a change of heart and will be looking for support in his attempt to get the top political job".

Hmmm.  I would have though that of all the elected members of the States, the connetable of St Helier woud be the least well placed to be Chief Minister.  It's not that I think Mr Crowcroft is either incapable or undesirable for Chief Minsiter, I don't know, it's just that the work load of the connetable of St Helier would not leave much time for doing the the work load of Chief Minister.   I think there may also be a question of whether the Chief Minister should really have demonstrated they have reasonable support across the whole Island electorate ie be elected as  a Senator.

[Terminator 4]

I will never forget the pigs ear he made of the JMT, how many millions did it cost in the end? 3 was it?

[danrok]

This would give a choice between Le Sueur or Crowcroft.  Surely anyone would be better than Le Sueur?

[ageofaquarius]

My own humble opinion is Crowcroft would be far far better than le sewer, he has integrity, ok he may have made a pigs ear of JMT but that was a while ago and perhaps he has learnt from it? His a good man.

[MAKKI]

Well, anyone is gonna be better than Le Sewer

[Fritz]

Can,t argue with that.

[Conductor]

It won't be our decision though will it?  Hey, if he does get the job I wonder if he will keep sooty in charge of Transport?  Well, thats if he gets in as well....

[Pomme de terre]

Crowcroft standing for Senator then Chief Minister is really interesting.

1) He is sure to get in on an islandwide mandate; for a start, he is very popular with St Helier ratepayers and all those St Helier votes will surely help him achieve a Senatorial position.

2) On the other hand, St Helier parishioners will have to be comfortable that a new constable would carry on his good work with parish finances.

3) Let's assume Crowcroft and Le Sueur are the two candidates in a final run off for Chief Minister. Let's assume Crowcroft wins. His very first job will be to nominate his ministerial team. His nominations are then approved (or not) by the whole house.

4) I can't see Crowcroft re-appointing Le Sueur as Treasury Minister. More likely, Philip Ozouf, or someone new.

5) I can't see Le Sueur taking defeat well, nor can I see him accepting a position working for Crowcroft, even if Crowcroft wanted him at Treasury. His likely reaction is to say "that's all folks, I'm off to tend my roses, let's have a by-election" sometime early in 2009.

So, Crowcroft standing for Senator and becoming Chief Minister is a sure fire way of not only avoiding Le Sueur as Chief Minister, but also getting rid of him full stop.

Is all of the above possible? Yes. Is it probable? It probably is. I'm off to stake a fiver with Honest Nev. I'll revisit this prediction after the new Council of Ministers is named!!! 

[Deputy Dawg]

Crowcroft can't loose then.

If it is a case of Crowcroft V Le Sueur then Crowcroft will undoubted beat him hands down. I have spoken to many people who will be voting this year and all of them hate le Sueur as much as Walker. The politicians will have to vote for their constituents and not their friends this year as I expect that anyone voting contrary to popular opinion in their parish is likely to receive a vote of no confidence within their first term of office. I also expect that it will be a question asked in the Senators and Deputies elections this year if no one else puts their name in and voters will want a real answer this year, not skirting issues like they did on other occasions.

I will vote for Crowcroft, but he has to tell me that he won't have Le Sueur in as a minister.

[Deputy Dawg]

Just had a funny thought!

JDA don't like Crowcroft or Le Sueur, will they refuse to vote, therefore showing that they are not working on behalf of the public, or will they put in their own candidate?

Southern or Alvin? <<snigger>>

[Jason the Maverick]

Not standing now.

http://www.thisisjersey.com/2008/08/15/i-wont-be-chief-minister/

ST HELIER Constable Simon Crowcroft will not stand for Chief Minister.

A fortnight after saying that he was considering putting himself forward for the top job and giving up his Constable’s seat to stand as a Senator, the three-term Constable has ruled himself out of the running.

The news means that Treasury Minister Terry Le Sueur, the current deputy to Chief Minister Frank Walker, remains the only declared candidate to lead the Council of Ministers from December.

Mr Crowcroft has also said that he will not step down as Constable of St Helier in September to run again, despite having agreed to do so last year as part of the electoral reforms which will eventually bring the terms of all Constables into line. This year, for the first time, most will be chosen on the same day as Senators in the closest Jersey has yet come to a general election.

[more]

 Simon sittimg on the fence yet again? Changing his mind as allways  so soon after declaring he may stand against T. Le Sueur for Chief Minister? The wind and Simon Crowcraft have a lot in common, as one of his ratepayers this is noticed often to be a game that he apparantly plays.Being Constable he changes his mind frequently not only in his parish but also on his Voting records .

[boatyboy]

Mr Crowcroft has also said that he will not step down as Constable of St Helier in September to run again, despite having agreed to do so last year as part of the electoral reforms.

This is actually two U turns. Not stepping down as Constable and not standing for Chief Minister. Not exactly focused thinking, many people including my self, were pleased that he was thinking of going for chief minister, as Terry Le Suer in my opinion, really is in a little world of his own. His recent statement that we are well Governed is beyond belief. Wages in the public sector are out of control, and the public sector pension scheme is massivily in the red. It would help if he could at least balance the books.

Lets hope another candidate steps forward closer to the time, it's never over until the fat lady sings.

[Chief Minister]

I never thought he would make a good CM.