Politics in Jersey has traditionally been dominated by independent candidates and members of the States Assembly, although political parties have existed at various points in the island’s history. In modern times, the introduction of ministerial government in 2005 contributed to the formation of several new parties, most of which were short-lived.
Statutory registration of political parties was introduced in 2008 for parties wishing to endorse candidates in elections to the States Assembly. In 2026, the States Assembly approved the development of a voluntary code of conduct for political groups that are not registered parties.
Intermittent party politics
Although Jersey politics has long been dominated by independent candidates, political parties and party-like groupings have appeared at several points in the island’s history. Pich and Reardon describe Jersey’s party politics as intermittent, noting earlier divisions between Magots and Charlots, post-war parties including the Jersey Democratic Movement and Jersey Progressive Party, and later organisations such as the Jersey Democratic Alliance, the Centre Party and Reform Jersey. They argue that the 2022 general election marked a significant change because political parties contested the election on a larger scale than before, although independent candidates continued to dominate the States Assembly. By the 2026 general election, however, only two parties fielded candidates and only one party (Reform Jersey) won seats.
Academic analysis of the 2022 election has described Jersey as being in the early stages of developing a party system. Studies of the 2022 parties found that party insiders sought to differentiate their organisations through values, identity and campaign presentation, but that several of the new party brands were not clearly understood by young voters.
Currently registered parties
Since 2008, political parties that wish to endorse candidates in elections to the States Assembly have been required to register with the Royal Court under the Political Parties (Registration) (Jersey) Law 2008. There are currently three on the register but only Reform Jersey is represented in the Assembly. +List of present political partiesNameYear formedLeaderStates Members 2022-2026 AssemblyStates Members 2026-2030 AssemblyNotesReform Jersey2014Lindsay Feltham and Montfort Tadier107Centre-left social democratic party. Formed as a pressure group in 2012, reconstituted as a political party in 2014. Three members served as ministers on the Council of Ministers 2024-2026. 16 members stood in the 2026 election.People First Party2026Nick Le CornuN/A0Left, social justice, green. Two candidates stood unsuccessfully in 2026 election.Advance Jersey (formerly Jersey Liberal Conservatives)2022Philip Bailhache20Centre-right, fiscally conservative, socially liberal. Formed as a political movement in 2021, reconstituted as a political party in 2022. No candidates stood in 2026 general election
Registered parties dissolved Since the registration of political parties became mandatory in 2008, two parties have been formed and later dissolved. +NameYears activeLeaderStates Members 2018-2022 AassemblyStates Members 2022-2026 AssemblyNotesJersey Alliance2021-2022Mark Boleat91Centre-right party. Dissolved after all but one of its candidates failed to secure a seat in the 2022 general election. Successful candidate sat as an independent.Progress Party2021-2023Steve Pallet21Centrist, 'big tent' party. Entered into a pact with the Jersey Liberal Conservatives in the 2022 general election. Dissolved after party leader failed to secure a seat; remaining member continued to sit as an independent.
Parties formed before statutory regulation The prospect of ministerial government, and of a clearer distinction between executive and non-executive members of the States Assembly, contributed to the formation of two political parties in advance of the 2005 election: the Jersey Democratic Alliance and the Centre Party. Both were active before the registration system for political parties was introduced in 2008. +NameYears activeKey figuresStates MembersNotesJersey Democratic Alliance2005-2011Christine Papworth (chair); Ted Vibert; Tony Keogh; Geoff Southern; Steve Pallett; Dave RotherhamGeoff Southern; Shona Pitman; Paul Le Claire; Debbie de Sousa; Judy MartinCentre-left. Supported human rights and implementation of the Clothier recommendations. Received funding from the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust. The party did not stand any candidates in the 2011 election.Centre Party, subsequently the Jersey Conservative Party2005-2007Larry Adams; Roger Benest; Darius PearcePaul Le Claire; Kevin LewisCentre-right. Policies included opposition to GST, tax reform, immigration control, right-to-buy for States tenants and clearer separation between executive and judicial functions; in 2007 it announced that it would contest future elections as the Jersey Conservative Party. None of the candidates standing for a party was elected in the October 2005 senatorial elections. In the November 2005 elections for deputies, three JDA members and two members of the Centre Party were elected, all having stood as independents.
Non-party political groups The 2000 Clothier report on government reform observed that Jersey had often seen temporary political groupings and alliances formed around particular objectives, rather than parties based on a continuing philosophy of government. Ahead of the 2005 elections, a group called "Elect Jersey 2005" worked to assist some independent candidates prepare for the elections, helping them compete against candidates supported by the Jersey Democratic Alliance and the Centre Party.
In recent decades, several groups and organisations have formed ahead of elections. The role of such groups can be seen in the wider context of politics in small legislatures. A comparative study of parliaments without dominant parties included the Channel Islands among legislatures historically dominated by independents, and suggested that small scale, face-to-face politics and small assemblies may reduce the need for parties as electoral cues or organising structures, while making temporary coalitions more viable. +NameWhen activeKey people/ supportersGeneral aimsTime4Change2008 general electionMontford Tadier, Nick Le CornuEmerged out of protest meetings related to the historical child abuse inquiry; opposed to levying 3% goods and services tax. Tadier and Le Cornu later become members of Reform Jersey. Le Cornu later formed People First Party.Jersey 20202008 general electionMark Forskitt, Nick Palmer and Daniel WimberleyBroad ‘green’ platform, including increasing recycling, local energy production, insulation grants, and opposition to new incinerator. Daniel Wimberley was elected Deputy for St Mary.Small Society2011 general electionGeoffrey Grime; supported by Jersey Chamber of Commerce and other business organisationsReduce public spending (’save first, tax last’), culture of accountability in civil service, share common functions with Guernsey, close public service final salary pension. An advert was ruled misleading. Better Way 20222022 general electionKristina Moore, who went on to become Chief MinisterThe group said its principles were responsive government, evidence-based and sustainable decision-making, affordable public spending, respect for diversity, international engagement, and support for business and entrepreneurship. Four of its members were elected to the States Assembly in 2022.Value Jersey2026 general electionGerald VoisinPolicy programme emphasised lower taxes, spending restraint, deregulation, increased competition in retail, taxis and banking, digital government reform, and support for business growth. Six independent candidates supporting Value Jersey elected to the States Assembly in 2026. In January 2026, the States Assembly approved a recommendation that the Jersey Electoral Authority should produce a voluntary code of practice for political groups ('all political movements, collaborations or campaigns') standing candidates for the 2026 election. After the 2026 general election, the international Election Observation Mission and the Jersey Electoral Authority both raised concerns about whether election law provided a level playing field between registered political parties and non-party campaign groups.
Earlier history of political parties
18th and 19th centuries Historically, two parties dominated Jersey politics. +Party nameEmblem and colourKey figuresAimsJeannot party (also known as the ‘Magots’)Laurel leaf, greenJean DumaresqAdvocated democratic reformCharlot party (the ‘Charlots’)Rose, pinkCharles LemprièrePreserving established power arrangements Originating in the 1770s, the Jeannot party formed around the radical lawyer and Connétable, Jean Dumaresq, who opposed the cabal of Jurats who surrounded Lieutenant-Bailiff Charles Lemprière (whose supporters became known as the Charlot party). The Jeannots rapidly adopted the nickname of Magots (cheese mites) after their opponents boasted of aiming to crush them like mites.
Dumaresq believed in political reform and was an early example of a Liberal. He believed in democratic reform - that the States should have vested in them executive power and should be composed democratically elected Deputies.:200 After the Napoleonic Wars, the parties were still existent. St Ouen provided each party with an emblem and a name: the Charlots (the Conservatives, sporting a rose) and the Magots (the Progressives, sporting a laurel leaf).:231
The symbolism soon became entrenched to the extent that gardens displayed their owners' allegiances, and pink or green paintwork also showed political sympathies. Still today in Jersey, the presence of established laurels or rose gardens in old houses gives a clue to the past party adherence of former owners, and the chair of the Constable of Saint Helier in the Assembly Room of the Parish Hall still sports the carved roses of a former incumbent.
In order to help control voting in Jersey, it was not unknown for citizens to find themselves taken and stranded on the Écréhous until after voting had taken place. By the time of the introduction of the secret ballot in 1891, party politics had waned.
Blues and Reds contested local elections into the 1920s, but Islandwide party politics lay dormant until the post-Occupation elections under the new Constitution of 1948.
After the Occupation After liberation in 1945, demands for constitutional and social reform gave rise to a short period of organised party politics. The German occupation had exposed weaknesses in Jersey's pre-war political institutions, and the Jersey Democratic Movement (JDM), which had circulated leaflets during the occupation, criticised the wartime Superior Council and alleged corruption and collaboration by States officials. After liberation, the JDM called for constitutional change and campaigned on a programme that included replacing the States with 34 paid deputies elected on a population basis, together with old-age pensions, housing and rent controls, family allowances, health insurance, education improvements, progressive income tax and death duties.