Chief Minister showdown set for St Clement as Sir Philip declares

Andy Le Gresley (33341138)

ST Clement could be the scene for a Chief Minister shoot-out as Jersey Liberal Conservatives leader and former Bailiff Sir Philip Bailhache has confirmed he will stand in the parish against Jersey Alliance’s Sir Mark Boleat.

Sir Philip first entered the States as a Deputy in 1972 before embarking on a long legal career three years later which eventually saw him appointed as Bailiff – a post he held between 1995 and 2009.

He was re-elected to the States Assembly in 2011 as a Senator and appointed as the Island’s first ever External Relations Minister.

Sir Philip stepped away from politics in 2018, but founded the Jersey Liberal Conservatives party in the run up to this year’s election, which is due to be held on 22 June.

He said: ‘I am standing in St Clement both because of my long-standing connections with the parish and because it will enable parishioners to vote for a candidate of the coalition between the Jersey Liberal Conservatives and the Progress Party. Our Coalition manifesto will be published next week. I think it is an exciting document with many fresh ideas and we look forward to hearing the public’s reaction to it.’

His decision to stand in St Clement sets him on course for a showdown with his Jersey Alliance adversary Sir Mark Boleat. Sir Mark confirmed last month that he would seek one of the four Deputy seats on offer in the parish. Both Sir Philip and Sir Mark would be Chief Minister candidates should they be elected.

Jersey Alliance’s Deputy Lindsay Ash, Reform Jersey’s Ken Addison and independent candidates Alex Curtis, Barbara Ward and Karen Wilson have also declared for St Clement.

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