Dejection for the JDA
Thursday 17th June 2010, 2:59PM BST.
Deputy Geoff Southern’s reaction at his home as the results came in last night Picture: ROB CURRIE (00984886)
DEPUTY Geoff Southern was last night forced to admit that voters had roundly rejected party politics as he slumped to fifth place.
The Jersey Democratic Alliance candidate, whose campaign had been sponsored by the Unite union, secured just 1,085 votes – more than 4,500 behind poll-topper Francis Le Gresley and 250 short of fourth-placed Gerard Baudains.
‘The result was greatly disappointing and demonstrates how far we have got to go to make people take politics more seriously,’ Deputy Southern said shortly after the final results were announced.
However, he was still in the mood for political point-scoring as he threw down the gauntlet to Senator-elect Le Gresley. ‘We ran a good campaign,’ he said. ‘I think what emerged at the hustings was that the candidates almost universally backed a slate of JDA policies in various ways.’
• More election stories in today’s JEP. Find out what poll-topper Francis Le Gresley had to say about his success and whether Stuart Syvret – whose departure from the States prompted the by-election - intends to try again next year.
Read the full story in the Jersey Evening Post. Click here for subscription details. Individual editions are also available online.
The Queen's Diamond Jubilee
JEP Jubilee Editions
Saturday 2 June: Guide to Celebrations
Wednesday 6 June: Souvenir of Events
View The Queen in Jersey supplement
Travel
To, from and around the Island
Airport Arrivals/Departures
Harbours Arrivals/Departures
Bus Information/Timetables
This is Jersey
Jersey Evening Post
Useful links
This is also a rejection for Deputy Southern and the politics of envy that he stands for. Increased publicity since his last near miss has given the electorate a better understanding of what he stands for and it is not popular….
Lets hope he gets the message
Report abuse
Deputy Southern: ”
The result was greatly disappointing and demonstrates how far we have got to go to make people take politics more seriously”
Here is a message for you Deputy Southern. People do take politics seriously, just not you or your union cronies who would rather see this island become strike-torn and an international embarrassment far exceeding even what ex-Senator Syvret did.
The JDA’s time has come and gone! Hip Hip Horray!
Report abuse
During the election Deputy Southern made a big issue of his forthcoming vote of no confidence in the Chief Minister, although his exact reasoning behind this other than being simply an electioneering stunt escaped me. No doubt the Chief Minister will be required to resign should he succeed.
Deputy Southern also made a big issue over his promise to lead by example. After having now received such an overwhelming vote of no confidence from the public does he still intend to go ahead with this election gimmick and if so, will he will he lead by example and also resign?
Report abuse
In the absence of political parties it is hard to see what will act to keep members to their manifestos when elected.
Most are relatively honest but to some the manifesto is just vote catching puffery to be completely ignored when elected.
Every single Senatorial candidate at the 2008 election promised electoral reform at the hustings, 18 months down the line and nothing has been achieved.
In the UK you vote for a party and you pretty much get what it says on the tin, in Jersey you vote and you get what they feel like giving you!
I feel a large part of the apathy on the part of voters in the island comes down to this, why vote when there is no connection between the members elected and the policies followed?
Report abuse
@ 2If it is the truth you are after, then think – about 15000 out of 90000 voted…. So since not even half of these voted for the “winner”… how exactly do people take politics seriously?
Please do explain how 75% of the electorate not voting and 60% of those voting not voting for the winner is taking politics seriously…
Especially when what happened was the establishment got another of their own in.
There is a serious problem is what there is. And the Unions are merely highlighting that this problem exists.
Don’t sweep it under the carpet for future generations to be saddled with!
Report abuse
DEMOCRACY ?
There would seem to be something shoddy about our electoral system when a senatorial candidate is soundly rejected at the polls but may still retain his seat as a deputy.
Time for a change to stop this nonsense happening again in the future.
Report abuse
I blame Southern and his JDA for ruining Stuart Syvret’s re-election campaign. This will never be forgiven JDA and we mean it.
Report abuse
Vote of no confidence in gs how can this man be in government without a public mandate?
Report abuse
I only voted to stop Southern getting in and so did many of my friends. I dont really expect Le Gresley to be able to change much but it would have been unbearable for one so irritating to have won and to have to listen to his flat-cap rhetoric.
Report abuse
7 agree
Never trust a turncoat like Southern again.
If the JDA have any clout they would be better to go it without him or replace him.
Once a traitor always a traitor.
Report abuse
GS – Your only as strong as your weakest member. So taking in account Mrs S Pitman, are you surprised where the JDA lye in the eyes of the people. Personally I like your style, you keep the politicians on their toes and leave no stone unturned, sometimes turning too many stones I have to say!
But you haven’t recruited anyone new to the JDA in the last election intake. and with the Pitmans as your henchmen the JDA has no future. I suggest you start looking after No1? You might just start to be taken more seriously.
Report abuse
7.McCall
I voted for GS purely as a protest vote against Syvret, knowing GS wouldn’t get in and i dont think i’m the only one to have done so. Syvret! good bye to bad rubbish.
Report abuse
Why Southern lost so badly is that he is already elected to the States why would people want to vote for him it would be wasted????
Simples !
Report abuse
2. Real Truthseeker
Totally agree!!
Report abuse
well, its good to see the insufferable old windbag accepts that he lacks democractic legitimacy, having been consistently rejected by the island wide electorate
if he has any principles or conviction he must surely now resign from the States. else we have to conclude he’s only in it for the money.
Report abuse
Mr Southern, you should go back to teaching!
First lesson – How not to stab fellow like thinkers in the back for your personal ego.
Report abuse
Given that even his own district voted overwhelmingly against him how he can have the nerve just to shrug and say “no damage done” is beyond belief. The only reason he is still in the States it because of the antiquated election laws we follow and which the JDA want to abolish. As Southern promised to lead by example he should either resign his seat or remove any reference “Democratic” from his party’s name. He is no more democratic than the many third world dictatorships who also include such in their titles. .
Geoff, having just read the JDA blog you don’t even have the support of your own party. The only reason you managed fifth place was the thousands of pounds donated by the poor oppressed teachers.
Report abuse
Andy Sibcy wrote.
DEPUTY Geoff Southern was last night forced to admit that voters had roundly rejected party politics as he slumped to fifth place.
Unquote,
No not at all Mr Sibcy. Reading the comments above and using my own thoughts, it was Deputy Geoff Southern’s irrational idea to stand for an island wide mandate when the politicians, deputies included, voted, as an example for or against the incinerator and many other all, island interests.
It is not party politics that is the problem, that is a completely separate issue. It seems to work ok in other countries.
I think people just did not get it. As already serving in the States as to why he bothered.
Being sponsored by the Unite Union threatening teacher strike action did not go down well amongst parents either. He got it badly wrong when he said the majority of the public were behind the teachers , they are not.
Davey.
Report abuse
#7
Southern and hid JDA didn’t ruin Syvrets re-election, he managed to do that all by himself by being a petulant little boy.
Report abuse
Southern got what he deserved, I agree with other comments here he is a traitor. I will never never vote for the JDA again standing against Stuart Syvret while not having the courage to resign his deputy’s seat gutless. How the establishment must be laughing and toasting Southern and the JDA for dividing the vote
Report abuse
So the JDA spent £8.00 of the unions money to get each vote !! Compared with 20p or less for Syvret (valid sources).
If I was a union member I know what questions I’d be asking!!!
Report abuse
“Getting people to take politics more seriously”, is an offensive response to a clear rejection from the electorate: the better response is to simply realise people don’t like your policies.
From the photograph above, one can see that Deputy Southern has committed the inexcusable offence of wearing a short sleeve shirt with a tie.
I personally would not send my child to primary school in such an obvious state of disrepair. If he has no pride in his appearance or the dignity of his office, perhaps it is he who is not “taking politics seriously”.
Report abuse
Mr Southern, you can put all the political spin you want on it, you didn’t get in as very few could be bothered to vote for you, they had more faith in senator elect and Stuart Syvret.
Come the next set of elections – will you even be a deputy anymore because only a handful wants you as a senator!
Report abuse
If Geoff Southern thinks this by-election result is bad for his two faced party then just wait until the next full election.
Report abuse
Everybody will admit that Stuart Syvret had a lot of critics/enemies before this by-election but strangly nearly all of them kept quiet and left it to the people to decide what to do.
But then the JDA came along and decided that they would go against everything they had ever said and that making Geoff Southern a Senator for 16 months when he was a Deputy already was more important to them and their ulta ego’s than Stuart Syvret and his future.
What followed were some of the worst attacks, if not the worst attacks on Stuart Syvret’s election campaign that I have ever seen.
Looking back over the past 3 weeks I am still shaken at what happened, Geoff, do not even bother standing again, the trust is non existant now and Ted, just vanish.
Report abuse
Geoff Southern should not have stood in this election full stop, thereby causing a split in the votes.The final outcome did no favour to the JDA cause,in fact may have been very damaging in the long term.
Another establishment seat won and a missed opportunity for reform.
We certainly seem to get the government we deserve and I eagerly awaith the next “general election” to see if lessons have been learnt.
Report abuse
As I support the COM and the right wingers these comments are music to my ears!
Two birds with one stone, excellent!
Report abuse
Stop licking your wounds the election is over and Syvret is out and voted out fully democratically by the people who were fed up with him. So there is no point crying about it, no point getting angry about it, no point blaming people for it, Syvret did it all by himself and him only, so move on.
The JDA do not even have an Island wide mandate but a selective one for the unions so why be surprised so many parishes rejected them?
The JDA will probably never understand that some people will never vote for them no matter how they try and sell themselves and I guess from this latest stunt they have pulled even some of the previous supporters have washed their hands of them.
The JDA has probably taken a step backwards over the past week and it will be tough to make up ground for them for sure.
Report abuse
Just wait till the electorate see Senator Le Gresley vote 100% establishment…..there might be a completely different vote next year!
Report abuse
Deputy Southern is a disgrace, he is a backstaber and a traitor.
He has caused irrepairable damage to the J.D.A. and should step down.
Report abuse
Let’s hope Mr. Southern and the rest of his cronies in the JDA finally “smell the coffee” and realise that their politics of smear,personal attacks and envy are not wanted by the people of Jersey.
Report abuse
nellie Macon- Bit quick to judge aren’t we.
Report abuse
% St.Helier…75% not bothering to vote and 60% not voting for FLG…that really is quite staggering when you think about it for a minute or so…G.S. was seen by many as a turncoat and SS suporters will indeed not forgive him for screwing things up.having said he would not stand against him publicly.for as stated here some voted not for FLG’s manifesto but to stop someone else getting in..I would not want to gain a place like that…and it says little for either men.what it does say loud and clear,the system is useless…and reform of not only the voting system but also of Government structure.we need reform badly and something where real democracy can flourish,no unelected members.no bloc vote from Constables,and a proper constitution that protects the population from the Govt and the Bankers, and developers
Report abuse
The old island politics game, each candidate comes from the following cast list.
1. Establishment lackey or school chum/Mason or whatever of those already in charge. (Le Sueur is to walker as Ozouf is to Le Sueur)
2. Those full of genuine concern and good deeds who upon winning give up after realising the struggle they have to face (Remember Syvret when he first started?)
3. Those who think they have a god given right to govern us because we cannot do it for ourselves but they are doing it for the good of the people(aka the nanny state – Southern, Pitman X 2 etc)
4. The Businessman who wants to get into the states for the opportunities and doors it will open.
The person who voluntarily wants to become a politician should immediately be banned from becoming one!
Report abuse
After an election setback, the natural human reaction may be to cry foul and cast around for someone to scapegoat. It’s much harder, but more worthwhile, to be honest in analysing what went wrong.
It’s no use trying to argue that the result was somehow ‘invalid’ because only a quarter of the electorate voted: In that case, if your man failed, his message clearly didn’t resonate with the three-quarters who didn’t bother going down to the Parish Hall. Why not?
Out of every 100 people who did bother to vote, 38 voted for a centrist candidate who promoted consensus. (And for those trying to damn FLeG as an ‘establishment poodle’ – you know, if you follow Jersey politics at all, how often CAB comments have needled the COM – and you oligarchy-haters know, if you’re honest, that in a straight fight between, say, him and Philip Ozouf, you would have been urging everyone to support Francis.)
Of the remainder, 22 voted for Syvret and 7 for Southern, while the right-of-centre candidates received the support of 21 (Ryan) and 9 (Baudains). 2 out of every 100 people voted Le Cornu, while 1 was a bit undecided between Maguire, Risoli and Remon-Whorral.
It’s no use blaming Southern for Syvret’s failure, just because the scapegoat is a convenient one. Even if Southern hadn’t stood, and every single one of his votes had gone to Syvret, SS would still only have had 29 or 30 of every 100 votes – not enough to overtake Le Gresley. If none of the ‘also-rans’ had stood, and all of those voters had gone for Syvret instead, it still wouldn’t have been enough.
It may be difficult to accept – but the fact is that support for Syvret fell from 15-16,000 previously, to 3,500 this time. Southern went from seven thousand votes in 2008, to barely one thousand this time.
It wasn’t Southern’s candidacy that caused such a massive fall in SS popularity, or vice versa. No amount of ‘media conspiracy’ theories can account for such a change.
No, both Syvret and Southern lost the overwhelming majority of their support this time, because what they represented was (perhaps in different ways) deeply unattractive to the bulk of the electorate. If either of them wants to be more successful another day, they and their remaining supporters need to look at that, and stop blaming the electorate, the media, or each other.
Report abuse
Nellie 29.
Give it a break! Your son is earning £40k + with 448 votes! I bet they wouldn’t put their hands in their pockets now and pay £89 each a year to keep him there.
At least Senator Elect isn’t a right wing puppet! He’d wipe the floor with most of your lot!!
Report abuse
agreed Jerry
F Le G – 5798
SS – 3437
GS – 1085
SS + GS – 4522. Still not enough to know F Le G off his perch! SS would have needed 28% more votes to have got close. No brainer, even if you had added the bottom placed 5 candidates to SS it still wouldn’t have been enough.
It wasn’t GS stealing from SS – just that neither of them was wanted enough by the majority of the elctorate.
Report abuse
I have to agree with Nellie. Having attended 4 hustings meetings FLeG cam across as uncomfortable, unhappy and unable to stand up and speak with any impact. Had to use notes all the time, and a couple of times an element of nastiness crept it.
If he is not Establishment now, it will not be long before he is. It takes a brave and strong man to stand up against them, and I do not think he has those qualities. 16 months will tell us a lot.
Incidentally Cathy (36) Mr Macon was democratically elected regardless of how many votes he got, so your comment is irrelevant.
Report abuse
Everybody here talking about the figures and percentages to do with voter apathy at this election has overlooked a very important fact.
The World Cup.
According to a BBC report yesterday, at the last World Cup online retailers saw a 30% slump in trade on match days.
If people can’t be bothered to go as far as their home computer to spend a couple of minutes buying something because of a football game, how can one expect people on an island where political apathy is rife at the best of times to actually leave their homes to vote when the alternative is an afternoon of football and beer?
It’s a serious point.
Report abuse
38 I agree it’s a serious point.
But is it a bad thing, if people who think that an afternoon of football and beer is more important than helping to choose their government, don’t vote?
Report abuse
I think Nellie you are being very unfair to FLG. He was proposed by RLH who no-one would ever class as an Establishment poodle. His policies are similar to the JDA’s (remember JDA keep on reminding us that all the other candidates “stole” their policies!) And the reputation of CAB is definitely NOT pro-Establishment.
FLG may not be a socialist but from what he has said during this campaign he is definitely not a right-winger. (If I was to liken him to a UK politician Sir Ming Campbell comes to mind)
Report abuse
Nellie Macon. You have some cheek making comments about FLG following the pack. The whole Island knows that your son checks in with mummy before he makes a “decision”. If he stood for an island wide vote, he wouldn’t stand a chance.
Report abuse
I hope Francis Le Gresley does make us proud in the end but I swear I will never vote for the JDA again after this and I live in St Helier Number 2 and I will tell my neighbours to do the same if they stand again. Out of all the candidates they played the worst back stabbing underhand smear campaign against another contender that I have ever witnessed in any previous election and I have been voting for nearly 24 years. Geoff Southern and Ted Vibert even made the credited media look pussyfoot, it was just aweful. His letters were just terrible and if he has been made presedent of the JDA then I hope he is proud of himself I really do.
Report abuse
Nellie Macon – Maybe you should look closer to home as I agree with George. I don’t know anyone who will be voting for her son next time, as we all know who is pulling his strings. One way to ruin your political career, ask Nellie to support you! I think FLG will prove to us all that he is a people’s man and will only do what he thinks is right and not be intimated by anyone.
Report abuse
32. Tricky – No, not quick to judge at all – I heard him at two hustings and his comments showed that there is no way he will oppose the COM. Senator Le Marquand came over in exactly the same manner at the last elections and he’s doing precisely what I thought he would – voting 100% establishment. You’ll see.
Report abuse
You would have thought Nellie would be better able to spot when an election candidate is simply a weak willed person who can easily be dominated by others.
Report abuse
#32 I’ll admit that I don’t know the guy, but from his very own words I also got the impression that he won’t challenge anyone at all. I hope that I got the wrong impression but, as I say, it was his own words that gave me that impression.
Report abuse
40. Paul I agree, Deputy Le Herissier is a great guy, however I don’t always agree with his reasoning….we’ll see who’s right on this one, won’t we. Time will tell.
36. Cathy – I am not right wing – I am strictly middle of the road, looking out for the taxpayer! We do need the right wingers to keep the COM on their toes though and they do a lot of good work with their questioning and challenging.
Report abuse
Slight confusion there following on from Cathy’s comment – I meant Left wingers were very useful in keeping the right wingers in check.
Report abuse
Nellie Macon, when are you going to stop trolling all these threads with your narrow minded political views of running this Island? And your son will be lucky to get back in again, absolute rubbish.
Report abuse
Only 9 votes in the motion of no confidence.
The JDA are now a complete joke.
Well done Geoff Southern !
You had better continue to sneak in as deputies or constables as you will NEVER get an island wide mandate !
Report abuse
Congratulations Deputy Southern. With all the problems facing our Island you have again succeeded in sabotaging our parliament with another stupid proposition. Your web site states that you are funded by a UK political group. Perhaps you would enlighten us as to your true motives as it certainly is not the best interest of the people of this Island.
Report abuse
Nellie – can see the qualities you admire in Deputy Le Hérissier. He has no idea as to which side of the fence his likely to fall off either.
Report abuse
Nellie–I think your son is a lovely lad,I spoke to him for a few minutes at the picnic in the park.
He may be quite and unassuming,but a good head on his shoulders and could do very well.
I think you should stand-from what i,ve heard you gave them some stick at the hustings last year,and we need people like you who is not afraid to stand up and put them in their places.
I would vote for you.
Report abuse
Thank you Bella – it’s very hard trying to stand up for local taxpayers (wherever they come from originally)but people like you make it all worthwhile.
Report abuse
Nellie Macon should just go away!
Her son is a very polite, intelligent and thoughtful man. He has a good future.
Report abuse
Gavin (50) “Nellie Macon, when are you going to stop trolling all these threads with your narrow minded political views of running this Island? And your son will be lucky to get back in again, absolute rubbish.”
Nellie is as entitled to her opinion on these various threads as you are. What gives you the right to suggest she stop?
Also you are being somewhat unnecessary about her son, unless you know him personally of course, which I doubt. From what I have seen of him he may not make much noise during the states sessions but he genuinely cares about his constituents and makes every effort to meet them and discuss any issues which is a darned sight more than many of the more mouthy characters do.
Report abuse
Well said Bella (54) I also would vote for Nellie should she ever stand for election. We don’t always agree but she’s certainly got her head screwed on.
Unlike many of the COM.
Report abuse
“From what I have seen of him he may not make much noise during the states sessions but he genuinely cares about his constituents and makes every effort to meet them and discuss any issues which is a darned sight more than many of the more mouthy characters do.”
This is exactly what is right and wrong with politics in Jersey in a single sentence.
It is great that you can speak to your local Deputy – as I did last week – about matters of concern. However, the flipside is that there is no room for the “bigger thinkers” in the States, for those who want to come up with radical, innovative ideas for the future. Instad, virtually everyone is bogged down in day to day matters.
Report abuse
38. J G “Incidentally Cathy (36) Mr Macon was democratically elected regardless of how many votes he got, so your comment is irrelevant.”
No comment or opinion expressed on a forum is irrelevant. I didn’t say Mr. Macon wasn’t democratically elected, i said “Your son is earning £40k + with 448 votes” – fact!
Report abuse