THE outgoing Rector of Trinity, the Rev Tony Keogh , will be named as the effective leader of a new political party being launched in Jersey tonight.

Mr Keogh is expected to be appointed interim president of the Jersey Democratic Alliance at the inaugural meeting of the body.

Many had expected that Senator Ted Vibert would be putting himself forward as the leader, as he has been the driving force behind the Alliance.

The alliance is expected to unveil broad-based support from across the political spectrum when the members of its interim executive council are unveiled at the meeting at Fort Regent.

Mr Keogh said he saw his job as being the person who will instil discipline within diverse elements of the party so that it is fit to be elected to government.

A clergyman for 40 years and Rector of Trinity for 30 years, Mr Keogh is retiring from his pastoral duties late this summer and it is highly likely that he will stand as a candidate for Senator in October’s elections.

However, he said that he was prepared to serve the alliance in any way that the party members wanted him to.