The Council of Ministers (; ) is the collective decision-making body of the Government of Jersey, formed by the Ministers of the States of Jersey and the Chief Minister. The council co-ordinates policies and administration, especially policy affecting two or more ministers, prioritises executive and legislative proposals, and presents a "Strategic Plan for Jersey" for approval by the States Assembly.
The Government of Jersey is the executive and administrative arm of the States of Jersey and the identity used by the Council of Ministers for these purposes. All ministers in the council are appointed by, and must be, members of the States. The council does not represent a parliamentary majority as ministers may be elected on a variety of manifestos.
The executive is prevented from constituting a majority of the 49 elected members by the States of Jersey Law 2005, which places a legal cap of 21 on the number of states' members who may hold office as chief minister, minister and assistant ministers.
The first Council of Ministers was established in December 2005. Before then, the executive powers of the States of Jersey were managed by a committee-based system of States members.
Constitution The ministerial system of government in Jersey was established by the States of Jersey Law 2005. Part 4 establishes the role and election of Ministers.
There are at least 8 members of the Council - the Chief Minister and 7 other ministers.
The functions of the council is:
to co-ordinate the policies and administration for which they are responsible as Ministers to discuss and agree policy which affects 2 or more of them to discuss and agree their common policy regarding external relations to prioritise executive and legislative proposals to agree and, within 4 months of their appointment, lodge for referral to one or more Scrutiny Panels, a statement of their common strategic policy such other matters as the Chief Minister or the Council of Ministers may determine
Ministers provide policy direction to Government officers, having given fair considering to those officers' informed and impartial advice.
Present composition
The current Council of Ministers was formed after the June 2026 general election.
Office Holder Chief Minister Senator Lyndon Farnham Minister for Health and Social Services and Deputy Chief Minister Senator Tom Binet Minister for Justice and Home Affairs Senator Helen Miles Minister for External Relations Senator Ian Gorst Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning Deputy Catherine Curtis Minister for Children and Families Connétable Richard Vibert Minister for the Environment Senator Mary Le Hegarat Minister for Planning and Regulation Senator Mark Boleat — nominated for a new ministerial office due to be created at the next States sitting; in the interim, appointed Assistant Minister to the Minister for the Environment with delegated powers. Minister for Housing Deputy Malcolm Ferey Minister for Infrastructure Deputy Jonathan Renouf Minister for International Development Deputy Carolyn Labey Minister for Social Security Senator Elaine Millar Minister for Sustainable Economic Development Deputy Gerald Voisin Minister for Treasury and Resources Senator Alan Maclean
Appointment of ministers The States Assembly elects a member for appointment as Chief Minister after every ordinary election of deputies and whenever the Chief Minister is not able to continue to fulfil their role. The Chief Minister, or any other States member, then may nominate members for appointment as Ministers. From those nominations, States members then elect members into each ministerial office. The Chief Minister or a Minister are in office until the next appointment to their role, or until they resign or are dismissed by the Chief Minister.
The States Assembly can hold a vote of no confidence in the Government and the Chief Minister, or any individual Minister. This happened in December 2020, when Senator Kristina Moore lodged a vote of no confidence in the Chief Minister over a controversy involving the Chief Executive of the Government, Charlie Parker. The proposition was lost 29 votes contre, 19 votes pour, with the Education Minister abstaining.
Chief Minister The Chief Minister acts as president of the council and matters may be brought for discussion by any minister. The Chief Minister may not be a Minister or Assistant Minister.
The functions of the Chief Minister with regard to the council are:
to co-ordinate the discharge of common functions of the Council to conduct external relations with the common policy agreed by the Council
Operation
Legally ultimate responsibility for the policy decisions of a department rest solely with the minister, however in practice matters are decided by a unanimous or majority vote of all the ministers.Senator Philip Ozouf, BBC Radio Jersey Talkback June 24th 2007 The Council of Ministers may require an individual minister to follow directs if a policy falls within the functions of the council and is in the public interest.
The minutes of Council meetings are drawn up and kept by the Office of the Greffier of the States.
Resignations The following table lists full Ministers who resigned from ministerial office while serving in the Council of Ministers. It excludes Assistant Ministers, Ministers who were dismissed or died in office, and changes following a general election or a successful vote of no confidence in the Chief Minister. The resignations listed below are concentrated in two periods: the 2008–2011 ministry led by Terry Le Sueur, and the 2018–2022 ministry led by John Le Fondré. The circumstances include resignations following policy disagreements, public controversies or investigations, and resignations connected with votes of no confidence in the Chief Minister. +Ministerial resignations from the Council of MinistersDateMinisterOffice resignedChief MinisterCircumstances20 October 2008Wendy KinnardMinister for Home AffairsFrank WalkerResigned after disagreement with the Council of Ministers over Home Affairs' proposal on corroboration warnings in criminal trials.21 April 2009Jim PerchardMinister for Health and Social ServicesTerry Le SueurResigned following controversy over comments made in the States Assembly on 10 March 2009.June 2010Terry Le MainMinister for HousingTerry Le SueurResigned after allegations relating to his links with a developer; he denied wrongdoing, and a later police investigation found no evidence to support the allegations.2 February 2011Sean PowerMinister for HousingTerry Le SueurResigned after the Council of Ministers said that he should do so, following a data-protection matter involving a confidential email.5 July 2011Freddie CohenMinister for Planning and EnvironmentTerry Le SueurResigned to focus on his role as Assistant Chief Minister with responsibility for external relations.9 November 2020Sam MézecMinister for Children and HousingJohn Le FondréResigned to support a vote of no confidence in the Chief Minister following controversy over the Government Chief Executive's second role.11 January 2021Tracey ValloisMinister for EducationJohn Le FondréResigned after disagreement over the Council of Ministers' approach to the return of school students during the COVID-19 pandemic in Jersey.7 June 2021Jeremy MaçonMinister for Children and EducationJohn Le FondréResigned during a police investigation, while denying guilt; police later took no further action.2 January 2024Tom BinetMinister for InfrastructureKristina MooreResigned as Minister for Infrastructure and lodged a vote of no confidence in the Chief Minister.
Dismissals Before 2014, a Minister could be dismissed only by the States Assembly, on a proposition lodged by the Chief Minister. In September 2007, Chief Minister Frank Walker brought a proposition to dismiss Stuart Syvret as Minister for Health and Social Services. The proposition cited a breakdown in relations with staff and child-protection bodies, alleged bullying and harassment of officials, and data-protection concerns arising from Syvret's handling of child-protection matters. The Assembly approved the dismissal by 30 votes to 19.
In January 2014, Chief Minister Ian Gorst lodged a proposition to dismiss Robert Duhamel as Minister for Planning and Environment. The proposition stated that the Council of Ministers had lost trust and confidence in Duhamel, and referred to concerns about transparency, planning matters, asbestos disposal and delay in the review of the Island Plan. The proposition was withdrawn before debate.
Following amendments to the States of Jersey Law 2005, now only the Chief Minister may dismiss a Minister. In March 2021, Jeremy Maçon was relieved of his ministerial duties as Minister for Children and Education by Chief Minister John Le Fondré, but a later Freedom of Information response stated that he remained the Minister, although he was not performing the associated duties. Maçon formally resigned in June 2021.
Previous Councils Frank Walker (2005–2008) Jersey's first Ministers were appointed in 2005, with Frank Walker becoming the first Chief Minister of Jersey.
Only one of the ten ministers he nominated to join his Council of Ministers failed to be elected, Senator Len Norman, whose position was filled by Deputy Guy de Faye.
Chief Minister of Jersey: Senator Frank Walker Treasury Minister: Senator Terry Le Sueur Economic Development Minister: Senator Philip Ozouf Home Affairs Minister: Deputy Andrew Lewis (replaced Senator Wendy Kinnard) Health and Social Services Minister: Senator Ben Shenton (replaced Senator Stuart Syvret) Education, Sport and Culture Minister: Senator Mike Vibert Planning and Environment Minister: Senator Freddie Cohen Housing Minister: Senator Terry Le Main Social Security Minister: Senator Paul Routier Transport and Technical Services Minister: Deputy Guy de Faye
Terry Le Sueur (2008–2011)
Elections for ministerial posts were held on 11 and 12 December 2008. The nominees of the Chief Minister were successful with the exception of Senator Routier, proposed successively for Health and Social Services and Education, Sport and Culture. Three ministers subsequently resigned as ministers (but remained as States members) in the face of criticisms of their personal conduct: Senator Jim Perchard (2009), Deputy Terry Le Main (2010) and Deputy Sean Power (2011), triggering further elections. One minister, Senator Freddie Cohen, exchanged the role of Planning and Environment Minister for that of "foreign minister" in 2011.
Chief Minister of Jersey: Senator Terry Le Sueur Treasury Minister: Senator Philip Ozouf (elected with 38 votes; Deputy Geoff Southern received 13 votes) Economic Development Minister: Senator Alan Maclean (elected with 32 votes; Deputy Mike Higgins received 20 votes) Home Affairs Minister: Senator Ian Le Marquand (elected with 34 votes; Senator Stuart Syvret received 18 votes) Health and Social Services Minister: Deputy Anne Pryke (from April 2009). Her predecessor, Senator Jim Perchard (elected in 2008 with 31 votes; Senator Paul Routier receiving 21 votes) resigned in April 2009 after controversy surrounding remarks he made in the chamber urging Senator Stuart Syvret to commit suicide.