Party Political Broadcast on Behalf of Reform Jersey

voiceforchildren: Party Political Broadcast on Behalf of Reform Jersey

"Black one-armed lesbians" – or how some in Jersey fail to understand women and gender equality

This Wednesday lunchtime a meeting was held in Church House by the Christian group Business Connect for all the candidates standing for Deputy in District No1 and No2.  Before them were a number of topical issues with a moral dimension. The hope from the point of view of the organisers of CHOW (Church House on Wednesday) was to pose a Christian challenge to contemporary politics.

The topics for debate were injustice in Jersey; Gay marriage; the position of the Dean in the States Assembly; Sunday trading; gender discrimination and Church subsidy through the Parish rates system. 

We all had to indicate which questions we wanted to discuss and our host Paul Milbank ensured everyone got to answer an equal number of questions and speak for two minutes.
 

CHOW



I noticed that the Establishment candidate here in No1 District, Gordon Forrest, displayed alacrity only to answer the question on Sunday trading. Being a modern Tory, with an employer and business background, this was not surprising. However, debates in the States Assembly invariably have a moral aspect and call for a fine tuned sensitivity to public sentiment. The world is not all technocratic black letter law and finance. Matters of gender, sexual orientation and constitutional law frequently arise and it was correct that CHOW posed them to candidates. 

Naturally Reform Jersey candidates Sam Mezec and I were hands up first to talk on justice and inequality.


Below are Gordon Forrest (District No.1, Establishment) and Sam Mezec (District No.2, Reform Jersey) speaking at CHOW on the issue of Sunday Trading:

District No.2 Hustings


On Wednesday evening District No2 held its Husting in the Town Hall Assembly room. I attended, and my assessment was confirmed by conversations afterwards; there was only one candidate of calibre speaking and that was Sam Mezec. His speech carefully crafted his evident youth, 23, to his advantage, emphasising vigor and agility over a number of sedate elderly gentlemen with conventional ideas and solutions. Some candidates shot themselves in the foot, in a classic manner, by deferring in their speeches to Sam, leaving no doubt in the audience's mind who had the upper hand. 

Whereas other candidates answered questions with a stream of consciousness, Sam displayed a rounded analysis of often complex issues. He did more than say he “would look into it”, the classic get out clause for candidates covering up their ignorance and provided a clear position on every issue.  

Injustice

My contribution at CHOW was on injustice which turned into a speech on inequality and again on gender inequality, which boiled down to the issue of women. I gave the latter a socialist twists by moving beyond “Trickle down Feminism” and its obsession with the “Glass Ceiling” that prevents upper middle class women entering Parliament and the Boardroom, to consider where was the “floor” for working class women bearing the responsibility of child care, the family and work.

Cringeworthy

When the only woman running for election in District No.1 spoke on women and rejected any form of positive discrimination, I had to cringe. Her speech then veered off on a semi racist tack, made all the worse because it was genuine and heartfelt. Sitting at the back of the room were three people of colour, a man and two women, one a Real Feminist. I was embarrassed on their behalf when Maureen Morgan mentioned “black one armed lesbians”, the fantasy bête noir of all Daily Mail readers. At least she realised she had over-stepped the mark and sort of apologised.

Judge for yourself if Ms Morgan will be invited to give the key note speech at the next Jersey conference on “Advancing Women in Politics and Public Life”?

THE ELECTION FOR DEPUTY IN DISTRICT NO.1 ST HELIER WILL BE HELD ON WEDNESDAY 5TH MARCH 2014 AT THE TOWN HALL, 8AM TO 8PM. 

VOTERS MAY PRE-POLL (VOTE EARLY) BY ATTENDING AT ST PAUL'S CENTRE, DUMARESQ STREET, FROM 9AM TO 5PM FROM MONDAY 24TH FEBRUARY TO SATURDAY 1ST MARCH AND AGAIN ON MONDAY 3RD MARCH 9AM TO 2PM.


Thanks again to Stewart for the photography.

PPC MANIFESTO - NICK LE CORNU - Deputy by-election District No.1 St Helier

This is the text of the manifesto that will appear in the PPC leaflet that is to be distributed to all households in District No.1 St Helier.

Nick Le Cornu

The current States Assembly is out of touch with the vast majority

of islanders. I wish to serve as Deputy in District No. 1 to deliver

policies that are in the social and economic interests of ordinary

working people. Born and educated in Jersey, I live at Havre

des Pas. I know about “Town issues” from personal experience.

Too often, St Helier has been short-changed by candidates with little

connection or interest in the community which they would seek to

represent. I am the only candidate who lives in the district, and will

ensure that I am readily accessible to constituents at all times.

SOLICITOR AND EMPLOYMENT LAW SPECIALIST

It is important to have States members who understand legislation.

I am a qualified English Solicitor and practiced commercial law and

litigation in the City of London. I have also worked in Company and

Trust administration in Jersey. I now specialise in employment law for

workers, challenging issues such as bogus contracts, unfair dismissal

and workplace bullying.

SOCIAL JUSTICE AND HUMAN RIGHTS

Since 1993 I have campaigned for gender equality issues and since

2008 for the inquiry into historic child abuse. I am Secretary of the

Jersey Human Rights Group, founded by former Deputy, Bob Hill.

UNION MEMBER AND VOICE FOR WORKERS

Having worked in finance, I know how wages and conditions have

worsened since 2008, leading to a lower standard of living. I am

sponsored by Unite the Union to be a voice for working people in

the States.

REFORM JERSEY

I campaigned with the ‘Option A’ team for the April 2013 Referendum

organising a special Parish meeting. St Helier residents voted for

‘Option A’ by a margin of two to one.

PRIORITIES:

• The creation of jobs and reduction of unemployment.

• Managing population growth.

• Preventing any rise in GST. This is a regressive tax which

impacts most on those least able to pay.

• Ending the inappropriate use of Zero Hours contracts.

• Campaigning for a real “Living Wage” because the Minimum

Wage is inadequate.

• Accessible Healthcare - Visits to the GP and (especially)

dentists are prohibitively expensive for many. Price should not

be a barrier when it comes to people’s health.

• Introducing statutory maternity and paternity leave.

• Making child care provision better and affordable.

• Reforming the electoral system so that St Helier has fair

representation.

• Improving the quality and affordability of private and social

rented accommodation. Reviving the Rent Tribunal.

• Implementing effective anti-discrimination measures.

• Ensuring access to justice for all with affordable legal representation.

The law is costly and out of reach to the majority.

• Restoring Fort Regent to a vibrant social and sports centre with

lift access from Snow Hill.

• Rejuvenating St Helier and its old industrial areas, including the

picturesque docks and quays.

Contact details:

Nick Le Cornu – 23 Havre des Pas, Flat 4, St Helier, JE2 4UQ

email: nick.lecornu@jerseymail.co.uk; Tel: 07797740886;

Web - District1StHelier.blogspot.com; Twitter - @NickLeCornu