Ozouf: ‘Move to oust me was never likely to succeed’
Monday 21st February 2011, 2:57PM GMT.
Treasury Minister Philip Ozouf
TREASURY Minister Philip Ozouf has said that he never thought a proposal to sack him would succeed.
Last week States Members threw out the proposition – brought by Jersey Democratic Alliance member Deputy Geoff Southern – by 37 votes to four.
Speaking for the first time since the vote, Senator Ozouf said that the proposal was a ‘hindrance’ which prevented him from announcing major policy initiatives.
The announcement of £2 million worth of funding for the Skills Council was, he said, delayed so he that he was not accused of releasing positive initiatives ahead of the debate.
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Senator, please ignore the usual suspects and get on with your work. Just like Clinton had to put up with the ridiculous you do too. However, the majority of islanders will confirm their support for you and your team, as opposed to the mosquito’s buzzing around.
Of course it was never likely to succeed, when both the number of people wanting it too, are much liek those in the States – a vocal minority.
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Yes Philip and if you take the time to look at the worlds press recently, you’ll see that there are many other leaders, not elected by the people but a handful of sycophantic cronies who said the same.
The difference is that they hold sway over the frightened populace by force of a strong military or police power, rather than pricing and corruption.
Time and the polls may prove you wrong soon enough.
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YEH;;;;;
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Lets hope you never get voted in again then.
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RT no 1.
Why do people use figures like majority of islanders support Ozouf because I doubt that is in the slightest bit true. If you want to mention majority then put it in context, the majority of islanders dont even vote (a well known FACT) so he cannot have the majority of islanders support if the majority didnt vote for him.
Maybe majority of voters support him, thats possibly closer to the truth you seek to spew forth.
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The arrogance of the man knows no bounds well OZOUF wait until election time and you will see exactly what the public want,,,, back to farming for you i think
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Oh what a big head you are! quite ignorant in fact
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Pride comes before a fall….and how delicious is it to watch the cocky ones go down the hardest….so you keep blowin your own smoke up you know where….
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all in the states, will face the electorate, one day or another.
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Very Painful!!! When do WE the people of JERSEY take this to the Streets?
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Ozouf – don’t get too cocky, the public vote is yet to come, then the real truth will show!
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You and many of your cronies may get a shock at the next election..
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Ok Phil. If you are so confident, why dont you resign your seat, and put yourself up for election this october ? Not going to happen,is it. Thought so …coward.
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Brilliant politics – the motion(agreed it was a waste of time) delayed funds for the skills council.
Never miss an opportunity Philip.
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democracy is coming to the middle east won,t be long before the people of Jersey take to the streets too Ozouf
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Philip Ozouf was, at least elected on an island wide mandate.He has proved his ability in the face of his direct exposure to the firing line,unwaivering in protecting Jersey’s future, unlike certain of those useless Deputies,whom never speak,duck below the parapet and just block vote as a clique of negativity, when tough decisions are needed to safeguard the future of our island.It’s ironic that they draw their salaries from the majority of island taxpayers, whom had no vote in their election and consequently no say in their overwhelming power to vote in the States Assembly.No wonder that these trumpted up local councillors voted to remove a quarter of the island wide mandate, in return for another year in office and an extra £44,000.
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The arrogance of the man knows no bounds well OZOUF wait until election time and you will see exactly what the public want,,,, back to farming for you i think
Hope he’s better at that than accountancy!!
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He can make comments like this because he has three more years in power.
Some on here talk about majority, but a majority means you are well ahead of the others, he did not win by a majority and in fact he only came 5th or 6th in 2008.
Why is it that the States members without a majority get the right to become CM? Look at the past and present CM to see that its a boys club and not the publics choice!
In a third world country its called dictatorship.
Definition of Dictatorship: “..government controlled by one person, or a small group of people. In this form of government the power rests entirely on the person or group of people, and can be obtained by force or by inheritance. The dictator(s) may also take away much of its peoples’ freedom.”
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…..to add to the above post.
‘Freedom’? you as much say anything anti States and you are charged with breaking Data Protection.
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Smug git. He only just got in last time let us not forget that
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Mick @15, Comparing the torture and $1 dollar a day incomes of the Middle East, to the comparable inconvenience here in Jersey just shows how odious and offensive are the views of you and your ilk.
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Senator Ozouf,
Stop talking like a tinpot dictator, as others have mentioned and acknowledge that all is not well in Jersey and the house of cards is starting to topple. A discontented and angry populace should not be written off or marginalised as a hindrance to your personal & political agenda.
If you are so certain and confident that your grip on Jersey is secure, then call an election and stand in it. Then let those same people choose their next Chief Minister.
The days where people feel powerless and frightened by those that rule over them have to end.
A general election for the complete line-up of Jersey’s government is the only fair way to go. And people, get out there and VOTE!!! Because if you don’t, then you’ll get what you deserve and thats how it happens in the real world.
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O.K. Hombre, if you are so cock sure of yourself and position,let’s put it to the test..you can stand in the next election…or your words are just hot air and rubbish….mealy mouthed posturing, you fancy your chances so come on put it to the public….then you’ll see that little coterie you surround yourself with are creating for you a totally false sense of security….’cos you sure as hell don’t cut it out here mate.
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look around you phillip world leaders are falling like skittles it won’t be long before you get a nasty shock and have to go. You weren’t elected by the public and you certainly aren’t my choice what an arrogant and unpleasant little tyrant you are!
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Tim, the populace are not angry, in fact many are very content with the difficult position Oxouf finds the worldwide economy affecting us. We might not all like the decision, but understand some must be made.
Also why shoudl he resign his seat? He was elected fairly to serve a period, and as a voter I would not be happy if he did resign his seat, as I voted for him, and would be annoyed if he bailed because of a few people who didn’t. What right do you have to demand him to resign when he was fairly elected. The unnecessary cost to do so is just stupid – and so are those who propose it.
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Mark G – even by your definition that proves Jersey is not a dictatorship. How can it be when these people are fairly elected by voters. By this definition alone you fail like all your ilk.
Remember, just because you disagree with the majority of voters doesn’t make it right (and from your comments, probably makes it wrong!).
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Get a grip people. Jersey is not toppling like a house of cards. It is facing the same pressures as every other western economy and is dealing with them in the same way – increasing taxes and trying to cut spending. The way the CM is voted in is not ideal but It is nothing like what is happening in north Africa and to compare it to such shows complete and desperate ignorance. These Arabs are fighting against dictatorships who are prepared to order their own police and military to kill them. Are you actually saying the same could happen here?!
As for voter apathy, history tells us that people do not vote because they are either not allowed to vote (like some of those Arab states) or they are relatively contempt and satisfied. People only go out and vote if they have the right to and if they are angry. Seeing as we do have the right to vote it seems the minority on here are the only ones angry enough. Time will tell.
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Without question, Senator Ozouf will be the next Chief Minister because of the stupid system, in other words, he will be put in that position by a few cronies.
Anywhere else in the Western World a Chief Minister is the leader of a successful party in a democratic election, or alternatively in a referendum, we have neither so how can Ozouf lose?
In my book, the previous two Chief Ministers were phoney, just as this next one will be, (I will not increase GST) says him.
How could anyone believe a single word this charachter ever says. And what a conceited person he is.
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Somebody get this man a new office, and an ajoining one for his head!
Arrogant, smug and self-important are words that spring to mind.
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yes , get out and vote at the next election ,people of jersey. young people use your vote.
when you get a job and see the taxes on you , you will want to know why so much.
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No need to wait for elections. All we need is a couple of thousand people in the square and it would be all over.
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Small Money: You forget one thing, the young people won’t have a job if some of these other muppets get back in!
Young people of Jersey: Ozouf has had to make the hard decisions, and they key to this island is employment and the finance industry. Our taxes compared to the majority of the world are tiny.
Ignore the vocal minority on here moaning about Ozouf, when in fact they should be thankful.
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No matter how those who eagerly deride the recent anti-GST petition would attempt to spin the numbers, the fact remains that thousands of islanders DID sign the petition in the knowledge that it also asked for Ozouf to be removed from his job as Treasury Minister.
That petition was the basis for this vote of no confidence.
For Ozouf to now come out and smugly comment about the failure of the vote of no confidence is to laugh in the faces of those thousands of islanders.
Not a wise move for a man who at his last election managed to retain his political career by the skin of his teeth following a loss of almost 40% of his public support.
To mirror what others here have said, if Ozouf is now so sure of his position that he feels confident in belittling the opinion of thousands of islanders, let us see him firmly prove that belief in himself and resign to stand in the forthcoming election.
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I am still one of 10 000 who signed against that stupid GST raise. Doesn’t change the fact that GST is going up and continue to do so thanks to Ozouf.
And Geoff , well done for being useless. 10 000 signatures for nothing, waste of time, ink and paper. 4 votes, you re good….
Should spend more time avoiding wasting money (for example: Hospital £26000 /month wages) and stop going the easy road by increasing taxes
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Gino, happily your revolution won’t happen today because it is raining, and there is only so much sacrifice a Jersey protester will make.
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Kay, Ozouf wasn’t laughing in the faces of thousands of islanders, he was reflecting the satisfaction of tens of thousands of islanders that this nonsense was thrown out. And why should a bunch of impressionable tourists, teenagers and can’t think of another word beginning with t) shoppers have the temerity (ah!) to distract one of our most important Ministers from hugely important matters at hand by asking that he spends four weeks seeking re-election to a post he already holds? Southern was lambasted for seeking election when he already had a place in the States (although of course he didn’t resign from his deputy-ship).
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Spot on Mike. Here! Here!
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Such arrogance – pride comes before a fall Mr Ozouf – the man who inherited millions. I doubt that it is in accounts over here!!!
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Mr Big Head will now get splinters in his ears everytime he walks through a door.
This is not a vote of confidence for Ozouf
This is a vote against stupid petitions and the JDA.
If Terry Le Sueur or Frank Walker brought the vote then Ozouf would be gone – you forget he is their blue eyed boy and all the states members know which side their bread is buttered – vote with the establishment and long may you prosper.
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I wonder if he’ll play the no rise in GST card again?
With a bit of luck a 66% rise in GST will put paid to his political career then he can go back to whatever he was doing before.
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ozouf your lucky it wasn’t an online vote by the people of jersey or you would be back digging spuds and doing a real days work instead of making a complete mess of jersey
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Dear Senator Ozouf.
I am very sorry 10,000 people proved to be a hinderance. Lets see what happens in 2014 when you and your extreme right wing policies are voted out by 40,000 people.
Please register to vote now and get his man’s allies out in October.
RT, you forget one thing. 16 year old’s can now vote, with 25 % of unemployment in this age group they can oust him alone.
One more thing RT, please stop bragging about your wealth, as far as I am concerned your £1M home in St. Mary’s is adequate, as is your travel arrangements.
Others enjoy life, and work to live, not live to work. PS. Because people do not agree with your nonsense does not make them left wing.
I just have a social conscious but could use my savings to buy you out. So do not think you are RICH in this Island, many people are by far wealthier than your adequate digs, but do good things with their money, e.g the guy in Gorey who gives away money every year on his birthday. You my friend are a nuisance.
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I certainly hope it’s pride before you fall buddy.
Your ego trip will come to an end, hopefully at the next elections
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