In Politics, Talk is Cheap

‘These [disabled] people need to have access to public transport which is free.’ – Deputy E.J. Noel of St. Lawrence, seeking election as Minister for Transport and Technical Services, 6th November 2014. 




Today, I lodged an amendment to the Medium Term Financial Plan asking for the £100, 000 that was to be allocated by the Privileges and Procedures Committee to States Members Pensions to be put to the (arguably better) cause of providing free bus passes for disabled residents in Jersey. As I explain below, this sum may or may not be enough, however, it will be a start and, more importantly, it will force a States decision on the matter and keep the pressure up on the Minister to deliver on his election promise.

Anthony Lewis receives national award presented by Australian
rugby player, Michael Lynagh on behalf of the Stroke Association

The issue of free access for disabled people to public transport came up at the very first senatorial hustings at Grouville in 2014 when well known Jersey man, Anthony Lewis, whose courage following a stroke was an inspiration to all, asked 'I have not been able to get a disabled bus pass; do we do enough for disabled people in Jersey?'  The responses were interesting;  What is particularly striking  is just how many established and long-serving politicians - including the Treasury Minister and a Former Social Minister - were unaware of the fact that disabled people in Jersey do not and did not (then) have free concessionary passes. Strange that.

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Responses from successful candidates:
Senator Ozouf: "I didn’t know you couldn’t get a bus pass. Many of us would want to fix that. More money is going into healthcare spending."


Dr. Cameron: "We can do a lot more. I have concerns over the way the Impairment Benefit is assessed, it’s not fit for purpose. The Jersey Disability Partnership is there and we do need to listen more to people like you to inform our policy in future."


Senator Routier: "No we’re not doing enough. I am the Chair of the Service Users’ Forum and wasn’t aware of this issue of not having a bus pass. We’re having a Transport Policy Review which I’m sure will put that in there."


Senator Farnham: "I’m embarrassed to learn you couldn’t get a bus pass, you should be able to; something has to be done about that. A lot more could be done, keep campaigning and I’m sure you’ll continue to get results."


Senator Bailhache: "I never thought about the question of bus passes. I’m sure we should be thinking about it. I’m sure there is more to be done, the question has certainly stimulated me and I’m sure others I think about the question for the future." (A great answer which can be given to almost any question)

Senator Maclean: "The question is why you should have had to come to a Hustings to raise this issue, you shouldn’t have had to, we should’ve known about it and been able to deal with issues to do with disabled people, if we can’t help as a government people who are in genuine need, what are we here for, if something needs to be dealt with? I might add that the system of support is sometimes too rigid, people feel almost criminalised at times with genuine needs who need genuine help and other people are abusing the system, so that needs balancing out to ensure we don’t waste money."


Deputy Green: "No we don’t do enough, not focussed on what disabled people can do we concentrate on what they can’t do… nor do we look after the carers. There’s a lot more work to be done."


Senator Gorst:

"Should we put more money into disability? The answer is yes… so we are going to need to put more money in certain areas. We are not doing enough for the disabled. Senator Routier and I have allocated some of our budget now to start a mapping process of disability. We do not know what all the conditions are, how many people there are, therefore we can’t even properly plan all the services that we need or make the changes to the buildings. So we’re starting that work and it’s got to be done in conjunction with business as well; it’s about public awareness… and what businesses are going to need to do as well to look after the people who are working for them, because it’s about ability. We’re not doing enough but we are absolutely committed to doing more… and once we’ve done the mapping and research we’re going to have to spend a lot more money, is that the right thing? I believe it is."


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Clearly, there is a lot of support in the Council of Ministers for this issue. The same sentiment and commitment to action were conveyed only a few weeks later when in Deputy Noel was making his pitch to the States Assembly for the job of Minister for Transport and Technical Services –
"I was appalled when I heard that at the Grouville hustings and I have had another. Yes, that is going to be high on my priorities… We will find a solution and implement that in short order."
Deputy E.J. Noel


With this in mind, the Council of Ministers, and the Assembly, should welcome the amendment which I lodged today, reallocate a starting sum of £100,000 to be used for the purposes of the Minister delivering on this election promise. I shall be very disappointed not to receive unanimous support for this, although such disappointments are not uncommon.

It should be noted that the wideness or narrowness of any proposed scheme (i.e. how many people are likely to be eligible) will have an effect on the overall cost of the scheme. It will also depend on what level of subsidy/discount, if any, the current bus operator will give, but it should be noted that Liberty Bus’s own website confirms that CT Plus is committed to Social Enterprise (presumably a modern phrase for Social Corporate Responsibility). It may well be that part of that Social Enterprise can be to offer free bus passes for the disabled, or at the very least, offer a discounted fair, with the rest being funded by Government.

People in Jersey may disagree on how much money we should spend on Income Support, who should qualify for free TV licenses, and how money should be spent generally. It seems to me, however, that in a decent, civilized society, decent provision should be made for those need assistance to do other things that many of us take for granted. It is important too, as the Health Minister Andrew Green has said, that we focus on what people can do and not what they can't, and this initiative recognizes the courage and resilience that many in our society show in the face of (sometimes hidden) physical and mental adversity.

The people I have spoken to overwhelmingly support the idea that disabled people should be given free travel on public transport (i.e. buses). I hope the States will endorse this amendment and send a strong message of solidarity to these people who play an active role in our society despite the challenges they may face. 

Out with the Old, in with the New

It's January 1st. Again. So let me start by wishing you all Health and Happiness for 2015! 
2014 was an interesting year and busy year and it was a campaign year. Not only were there general elections in Jersey, but also two by-elections early in the year, which saw two progressive candidates elected, and one hold onto his seat in the Autumn.

For me, the 15th October 2014 marked the beginning of my third consecutive term as a States Member. However, it was the first time I had stood and been elected as a member of an official political party, namely Reform Jersey. I was particularly pleased to have had an excellent running mate in Beatriz Porée. Although she did not get elected this time around, it was the first time that electors of St Brelade no. 2 district were able to vote for two Party candidates of the left. 391 voters chose to vote for Beatriz, in a very tough field of runners and a total of 1281 were cast for Reform Jersey in our district.

Reform Jersey Candidate, Beatriz Porée

The results overall were modest. Whilst the party did not managed any gains in terms of seats, it did manage to hold on to its three existing members and their seats. At the same time, thousands of votes were cast throughout the island, for the first time, for the five female candidates: Anne Southern, Laura Millen, Shannen Kerrigan, Debbie Hardisty and Beatriz (above). But one is reminded, that it is not unusual for parliamentarians not to get in at their first attempts. 

So the challenge for us at Reform Jersey in 2015 and beyond is to keep up the hard work and build on current successes. This is a challenge which we three States Members - (Deputy Mézec, Deputy Southern and myself) relish - and in which the wider membership will also be involved.

I would like to thank all of those who have provided personal and political support throughout 2014 - you know who you are. I and we could not have done it without you.

If you would like to join us in 2015 in our efforts to bring greater accountability, transparency and fairness to Jersey and its government, then please do get in touch.

Dates for your diaries:

We will be having a social and fundraising evening at the Town Hall on Saturday 24th January, including a Pub Quiz. More info to follow.

Surgeries:

Drop-in clinics for St Brelade no.2 constituents will be held every Monday from 12-1pm at Communicare, starting on 19th January. 

2014 - A Manfiesto in 500 words

Personal
In the past six years, I have worked hard to deliver my manifesto pledges, including delivering improvements in housing standards and legal aid reforms. I am currently serving on the Access to Justice review, to provide Jersey with an accessible and affordable justice system. If re-elected, I wish to continue this work as well as focusing on the areas below.

Policies

Economy
A strong, sustainable and diversified economy is key for the success of Jersey and the well being of its residents. I will promote investment in tourism and cultural events, as well as supporting a transparent, ethical and sustainable finance sector as the backbone of our economy.

Jobs
A priority for Reform Jersey is to reduce unemployment and tackle the high cost of living. We support the introduction of a ‘Living Wage’, higher than the minimum wage, so that people can live without relying on income support. We support more help for working parents and will push for a full 26 weeks statutory maternity leave, so that family life is given the support that it needs. There must be a focus on vocational training for young people. We are committed to tackling the inappropriate use of zero-hour contracts.

Education
I wish to ensure that all children, no matter what their background or financial means, get access to a quality level of education. I am keen to promote early years learning of modern languages and improve primary school maths teaching. We must also do more to encourage life-long learning.

Health

Without our health, we have nothing. Many do not visit the GP when they need to because of cost. I will push for free GP visits and more affordable dentistry. It is unacceptable that our aging residents often have to wait so long for operations. This needs more investment to reduce waiting times. I will fight for improvements in mental health care and better provision for those with a disability and for their carers.

Public Services and Taxation
I will oppose any cuts to services that will hurt the vulnerable and those on low/fixed incomes, including pensioners. Reform Jersey candidates will oppose any increase in GST. If spending does need to increase, it is important that it does not hit ‘middle Jersey’.
We must look at progressive methods of taxation, including the restructuring of social security contributions: if contributions were actually levied at a flat rate, without a cap on earnings, a lower rate of 5% could be applied, benefiting the vast majority, whilst yielding an extra £7.5 million a year.

St Brelade
I pledge to work with the Constable and new deputies to maintain the unique beauty and community of our parish. I will oppose inappropriate development and push for a sustainable population policy for the island.

Referendum
Constables play an important role is island life. However, the roles of municipal head and being a politician are two separate jobs and should entail two separate elections. As such, I will be voting ‘no thanks’ on 15 October.

Le Clos des Sables Petition Presented Today

This afternoon I will be presenting the petition which was started by residents of Le Clos des Sables to ask Property Holdings not to go ahead with plans for the development of 2 green areas on the estate. The petition will be accompanied by a proposition and report which details the rationale behind the petition and details the desired action that the Minister should take. Readers can find the detail by clicking on the link above (which also includes maps of the proposals), but below is the extract from the petition itself. The petition was signed by 181 residents of the 216 (+/-) properties of the Estate and represent the vast majority of households.

Whilst the petition focuses on Le Clos des Sables soley, the Proposition does make it clear that the same concerns apply to Les Quennevais Park, both of which are adjoining, and the proposition as the Minister to 'consult fully with residents and parish representatives before any future proposals are pursued for the sale or development of public land in Le Clos des Sables or Les Quennevais Park.'

The Petition itself reads:

'The residents of Le Clos des Sables, St. Brelade are of the opinion that this estate has more than its fair share of development. The area is already very built-up; 

in addition there is a large secondary school in the form of Les Quennevais School right in the middle of the estate which brings with it corresponding large traffic flows at peak hours during term time. The residents believe that those green 

areas which remain provide a vital ‘breathing space’ – both physically and psychologically;  they enhance the aesthetics of the estate and in some cases provide an area for recreation. In summary, the residents oppose any new development for two reasons: 
(1) The open spaces are valued in their own right and would be missed if they were removed.

(2) The estate would become even more built up and busy.

We request the Minister for Treasury and Resources to instruct the Property Holdings 

Department not to proceed with plans for the proposed sale of 2 plots of public land

(one adjoining 116 and 123 Le Clos des Sables and the other separating 

132 and 145 

Le Clos des Sables).'

Thanks goes to the residents of the estate who organised the petition and did the majority of door knocking. I will update readers of future developments.