Another establishment critic for Health Ministry

Thursday 20th September 2007, 12:00AM BST.

THE States have elected one of the most prominent critics of the Council of Ministers as the new Health Minister.

Senator Ben Shenton beat Social Security Minister Paul Routier by 27 votes to 22 in the election caused by last week’s sacking of Senator Stuart Syvret. The vote means Senator Shenton follows in the footsteps of his father, Senator Dick Shenton, who presided over the Health and Social Services Committee until 1999. Yesterday’s vote was initially a three-way race including Deputy James Reed, but when no candidate won an absolute majority a second secret ballot was held without the St Ouen Deputy, who had placed third. Senator Shenton won by five votes. Just after the result was announced, Senator Shenton said he had not expected to be successful. ‘I was surprised,’ he said. ‘I had not actually canvassed anyone to try to ascertain support.’

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