IAN GORST

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My Manifesto

Cost of Living

  • Freeze fuel duty in the next budget and implement temporary cuts where global events lead to major rises in fuel prices
  • Cut alcohol duty on the price of a pint and a glass of wine to support hospitality
  • Challenge new regulations or charges which place a greater burden on family budgets and the cost of business
  • Continue to support businesses with the managed and phased implementation of the living wage
  • Support the introduction of a low-cost supermarket
  • We should welcome those with skills to support our economic strengths and diversification on a work permit system

The Economy

  • Deliver the Financial Services Competitiveness Programme to retain and attract business
  • Maintain Jersey’s position as a leading International Finance Centre, supporting 40% of local jobs
  • Improve transport links with the UK, Europe, and the Channel Islands to encourage more visitors to Jersey and boost our connectivity, championing a new connection with the City of London airport
  • Reduce the cost of doing business, embrace innovation, and improve our business infrastructure
  • Prepare for the opportunities of Artificial Intelligence to increase efficiency in business and the public sector
  • Continue to support the agriculture, fisheries, and dairy sectors to grow and find new markets
  • Encourage the growth of the digital sector and the creative industries
  • Recognise the importance of the arts, culture and heritage industries to our economy and the vibrancy of our community
  • Support all businesses to take steps to improve their productivity

Housing

  • Explore options to reduce island mortgage rates
  • Maintain government support for Andium Homes to deliver affordable homes and assisted purchase schemes for first-time buyers
  • Work with private developers to enable new housing developments, especially of family homes, maximising the proportion of affordable units
  • Deliver greater investment in St Helier neighbourhoods to improve town living
  • Use existing States funds to invest in new housing developments and public infrastructure improvements
  • Improve incentives for good landlords to provide quality accommodation for tenants

Population

  • We must improve opportunities to train and develop local staff in all sectors and ensure we retain home-grown talent
  • We should welcome those with skills to support our economic strengths and diversification on a work permit system

Environment

  • We must protect our countryside and coastline. I supported the purchase of the Plémont Headland and the former café at Grève de Lecq to save them from private development – we should look for opportunities to do more
  • I oppose the large-scale use of green fields for solar panels
  • I favour the use of brownfield sites for developments to protect agricultural fields and minimise development in the Green Zone
  • I will support efforts to further enhance and protect the beauty of our Coastal National Park
  • Moves towards carbon neutrality must have broad public support and not put islanders at an unfair disadvantage

Education

  • I support recent increases in education funding, but we must ensure that we are delivering for the needs of our pupils
  • The curriculum should be widened to reflect best practice elsewhere in vocational and academic education
  • We must secure the future of Highlands College on a modern and fit-for-purpose campus to support on-island training and development, including for AI training, skills and apprenticeships
  • There is clear emerging evidence about the harms of social media for our children – we must ensure adequate protections
  • I will continue to support improvements in services for children and young people, especially those in our care, to ensure every child has the opportunity for a fulfilling life

Health

  • Additional investment in health must result in improved services, reduced waiting lists, and fewer cancellations
  • I support continued investment in mental health services to support our community
  • We must continue to ensure that quality long-term and end-of-life care is available to every islander
  • Our health care model must be suitable for Jersey and recognise the resources we have available
  • We must ensure rigorous controls on the cost of the new hospital to avoid any more money being wasted

States spending

  • Recent increases in public spending are unsustainable – the States must make more efficient use of existing resources, including by a return to three-year budgeting
  • The next Government must listen to the Fiscal Policy Panel and take action to boost our reserves
  • We must return the full grant to the Social Security Fund and restore a balanced States budget
  • I do not support any further borrowing, other than for the new hospital, as this risks compromising our financial stability in the event of a major economic downturn
  • Government should continue the current recruitment freeze for non-frontline roles and further reduce the use of external consultants

Jersey and the world

  • I will use my wide network of contacts in government, business, and the diplomatic world to be a strong voice for Jersey in the UK, Europe, and our key global markets, so we can defend and promote our interests
  • We must continue to expand our network of international agreements to support local business and trade
  • We should build on our diplomatic, economic, and cultural links with all communities who are represented in the island
  • I will work to protect Jersey’s constitutional position and strengthen our self-governance
  • Jersey should continue to implement sanctions against Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine and other global bad actors

Tax

  • Jersey’s success is based on maintaining low, simple, and competitive taxes
  • Income tax thresholds should continue to increase annually in line with inflation
  • I will not support any rise in GST above the current rate of 5%, or the introduction of capital gains or inheritance taxes
  • We should continue to co-operate with new global tax rules, ensuring that any increase in revenue is ringfenced to support businesses, local infrastructure projects, and to increase our reserves

Charities

  • There should be greater engagement with the third sector to inform Government policy and improve outcomes for the community
  • I will support the distribution of funds from the Jersey Community Foundation to charities on a multi-year basis
  • Government must work with charities to enable them to operate efficiently and provide certainty of service provision
  • I will continue to encourage philanthropy in the island

About Ian

  • Age: 57
  • Family: Married to Dionne with two daughters
  • Experience:
    • Deputy for St Clement (2005-2011),
    • Senator (2011-2022),
    • Deputy for St Mary, St Ouen, and St Peter (2022-2026),
    • Minister for Social Security (2008-2011),
    • Chair of Jersey Overseas Aid (2008-2011),
    • Chief Minister (2011-2018),
    • Minister for External Relations & Financial Services (2018-2022 and 2024 to present),
    • Treasury Minister (2022-2024)
  • Career: Accountant
  • Voluntary Service: Founding Chair of Jersey Cares, former Governor of Le Rocquier School
  • Interests: Running, Walking, spending time with my family

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