Turning
the Tide

Housing is a human right and basic human necessity. Reform Jersey believes that the government should prioritise this principle above treating housing as an investment opportunity.

Over the last two years, we have made substantial progress in addressing Jersey's housing crisis. A new Residential Tenancy Law has just come into force, outlawing revenge evictions, providing greater security of tenure for tenants and protecting against excessive rent increases. A new first time buyer scheme, First Step, was established, alongside new rules on first time buyer eligibility which have helped homebuyers move up the ladder. Social housing eligibility was also extended to include young people.

Housing still remains unaffordable for many. Whilst the policies we have implemented in the last two years will begin to benefit Islanders as they bed in, there is still more to do.

We will finish the work we have started. We will ensure that £100m is invested in new family-sized houses and comfortable smaller homes for older people to be able to downsize within their communities. We will trial a new 'rent-to-buy' scheme through Andium. We will bring forward a mechanism to get empty homes back into use, either through Empty Dwellings Management Orders or a financial penalty for those who leave habitable homes empty without good reason. We will modernise the legislation governing Lodging Houses, to improve conditions for those living in these homes. We will bring forward legislation to enshrine a definition of 'homelessness' in Jersey law and oblige government departments to support those at risk of facing homelessness.

We will work closely with our social housing providers to improve our social housing rents system, reduce rental stress and deliver more affordable homes.

For young people either seeking to stay in Jersey or return after their studies, we will introduce a new deposit saver scheme, where they can make tax-deductible contributions to an account which can be released at the point they buy their first home.

Reform Jersey remains unequivocally committed to the principle of healthcare provided free at the point of need. Our health service should provide high quality care from cradle to grave, in modern facilities run by dedicated professionals.

Successive governments have failed Jersey by unnecessarily prolonging the project to deliver a new hospital by over a decade, squandering over £200m in the process. The constant indecision and U-turns have not just cost Jersey financially but have distracted from the delivery of day-to-day health services, leaving Islanders experiencing increased waiting times, a more strained and fragmented service. Many Islanders have felt they have had no choice but to go private for treatment, while many others have not been able to afford the choice so have had to suffer their ailments for too long.

Reform Jersey will not seek to delay the delivery of the new hospital. We must commit to building what has been agreed, so we can refocus our efforts on improving services for both physical and mental healthcare. By improving the management structure and accountability within the health service, fixing broken administration systems and resolving the longstanding unsustainable funding model for healthcare, we will work to reduce waiting times and improve the patient experience. In particular, we will continue to drive down the cost of seeing a GP, so no Islander is put off seeking medical attention when they need it, and so we can promote a more preventative approach to healthcare.

Where outsourcing is not providing good value for money, we will bring services in house where they can be delivered more economically, efficiently and effectively. Where services are best provided by third parties or charities on behalf of the government, we will work closely with them to ensure they are commissioned properly with adequate funding, and well co-ordinated with existing public services.

We commit to following the Mental Health Strategy published earlier this year and supporting the delivery of the proposed new mental health hub on La Motte Street, which will provide a 24/7 service. We will work closely with services to reduce waiting times for assessments and ensure timely access to care. This must include a renewed focus on Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), where too many young people and families are facing delays and distress in getting the support they need.

We will work with colleagues in Guernsey to explore whether shared Channel Islands health services could attract specialist health professionals to serve both Islands where it would otherwise be poor value for money to operate in only one.

We will ensure that disabled Islanders, carers and those facing the greatest pressures are supported by services that are accessible, dignified and designed around practical need. We will embed accessibility and inclusion more consistency across public services, recognising that a fairer Island is one where every person can participate fully in Island life.

Jersey does not currently have an equivalent of the Care Act, acting as a charter of dignity in later life and disability. For those who are cared for and those who care for others (whether as professionals or as family members), we must ensure our services provide the best support possible. The Reform Jersey Social Security Minister commissioned an urgent review of support provided for carers, which has set out measures that we commit to implementing if we are returned to government. We will also plan to bring forward legislation that enshrines the rights of carers and those who are cared for in law.

Ensuring that children in Jersey have the best start in life is an investment in our future. Every child in Jersey deserves to grow up in a loving and safe environment where they are nurtured to reach their potential and be happy. We have a special duty to ensure that children in care are looked after with the same care and dedication that we would expect for our own children.

We will support the restoration of the children's residential care estate, so children in care are living in comfortable and homely environments. We will continue to push for a reduction in the use of agency social workers in Children's Services, and instead focus on permanent contracts, so children and families can benefit from stable relationships with the social workers who support them.

We will implement measures to protect children online, including addressing gaps uncovered through the gap analysis currently being undertaken, following the review on Online Harms, led by a Reform Jersey scrutineer.

We will continue to strengthen support for families facing exceptional pressures, including those caring for children with complex or life-limiting conditions.

We will complete the delivery of the new youth centre in town, followed by a new youth centre at Le Squez to replace the facility that is fast approaching the end of its useful life. We will also commit to implementing the vision for a restored Fort Regent, so it once again becomes a place where children and young people can enjoy a variety of leisure facilities.

In our last manifesto, we committed to extending free childcare to 2- to 3-year-olds. We are proud to have achieved this earlier this year with the introduction of 15 free hours a week. This will save some families over £6,000 a year, taking a huge financial burden off their shoulders. When feasible, we will seek to expand this further.

It remains our long-term ambition that the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child should be directly incorporated into Jersey law.

Reform Jersey believes that every Islander should be able to retire with dignity and comfort, supported by a government and population that is grateful for their contribution throughout their lives.

Our record in defending pensioners is long. We strongly opposed measures by previous governments to remove benefits and support from pensioners, such as the Christmas bonus, free TV licences and tax allowances. In this term of office, we successfully increased the pensioners' Christmas bonus and expanded the 'Pension Plus' scheme, which offers cheaper access to GPs, opticians, dentists and chiropody, to 1,300 extra pensioners.

We acknowledge the strength of feeling among many of Jersey's pensioners that the Income Tax threshold brings many pensioners into the tax bracket, despite only having a modest income on top of their States pension. To address this, we will introduce an enhanced pensioner's tax allowance, which will bring more pensioners out of Income Tax. We will further expand 'Pension Plus', so more can benefit from cheaper health services.

We will defend the pensioners bus pass and opposed any proposals to remove or restrict it.

To support those older Islanders whose children have grown up and now wish to move into a smaller home, we will introduce a downsizers' Stamp Duty incentive, to make it financially worthwhile.

Reform Jersey is committed to a progressive tax system which Islanders and businesses contribute to on a fair and equitable basis, in order to fund the services that we all rely on. We have long held a position of opposing tax increases when they have been proposed in regressive forms.

Instead, we will reform our Income Tax system by removing the '20 means 20' calculation and allowing all taxpayers to claim tax allowances. This will enable us to reduce the marginal rate from 26% to 25%, providing a tax cut for middle earners, whilst asking the highest earners to contribute the same percentage. The majority of taxpayers will be better off under these proposals.

The Social Security Contributions system and Long Term Care charge includes a regressive Upper Earnings Limit, which sees the highest earners paying the lowest rates. We will scrap the caps, and direct the revenues it will generate to the Social Security Fund and the Long Term Care Fund, so better support can be provided to Islanders.

We maintain our position that GST should not be charged on food and essentials. As our public finances improve through progressive tax reforms and the more efficient delivery of government, we will seek to remove it to support Islanders with the cost of living. As well, we will support temporary measures in respect of fuel duty, to mitigate the impact on Islanders of rising prices following recent global fuel price shocks.

We commit to maintaining a competitive and effective Corporation Tax system, and will work with colleagues in Guernsey and the Isle of Man to ensure that any changes are implemented collectively, so they are not to the detriment of any of the Islands.

Ensuring our Social Security Fund remains sustainable for future generations must be a priority for the next government. Our proposal to remove the Upper Earnings Limit on employer's Social Security Contributions will make this easier to achieve.

Reform Jersey is a pro workers' rights party, with a strong track record in supporting trade unions and those campaigning for better conditions at work.

Under a Reform Jersey Social Security Minister, many of our previous manifesto commitments to enhance workers' rights have been achieved. We spearheaded a responsible transition towards the Living Wage, with high increases in the Minimum Wage, balanced with a package to support businesses that may otherwise have struggled to accommodate this. We increased the compensation limits for awards at the Employment and Discrimination Tribunal from £10,000 to £30,000. We developed legislation to protect whistleblowers who speak out at work.

In the next term of office, we will continue on this path, working in partnership with representatives of employees, businesses and the legal profession to ensure every step forward is to the benefit of Jersey as a whole. In particular; we will extend the time limits for claims being brought at the Employment and Discrimination Tribunal, we will introduce protections for workers during company takeovers to protect against redundancy or 'fire and rehire' tactics, and we will implement the whistleblowing legislation we developed in this term of office.

We will also work with businesses, workers and pension providers to move towards making workplace pensions the norm in Jersey. Work began on this during the last term, but was paused so government could focus on delivering major improvements to the Minimum Wage. Now is the right time to return to this issue, ensuring that more Islanders can build up savings for retirement through decent workplace pension provision.

Migrant workers who come to Jersey must also be better protected and supported. We commit to delivering legislation on Modern Day Slavery, and reforming the work permit system so that workers who come to Jersey are not able to be held in servitude because of the terms of those permits. We will continue to support the International Cultural Centre as a service for people to receive support in navigating our government systems.

We are fortunate to live in an Island that is safe, especially compared to so many other places in the world. It is a major selling point for Jersey and fundamental to our quality of life. But we must not take it for granted. We must ensure that our emergency services are funded properly with the tools at their disposal to protect Islanders.

The publication of the report of the Violence Against Women and Girls Taskforce was a watershed moment that provided an important agenda for change, inspired by the brave testimony from many victims and survivors who spoke out. We were pleased to support the initiatives of the outgoing government in passing new legislation to protect the victims of domestic violence, and to have helped secure funding for the police in the latest government Budget. We will continue to promote the delivery of the outstanding recommendations from the VAWG Taskforce.

Keeping Islanders safe on our roads must remain a priority. In the last term, a Reform Jersey member secured a lifetime driving ban for those who kill or seriously injure pedestrians and fail to stop. We will build on this by working closely with the States of Jersey Police and the Honorary Police to strengthen road safety enforcement, improve driver behaviour, and ensure our roads are safer for everyone.

We will support the development of Hate Crime legislation to protect Islanders from minority backgrounds facing danger and persecution simply for being who they are. Our long-established support for human rights, dignity and equality for all will remain sacrosanct. In particular, we will oppose any attempts to roll back the hard fought for rights of Jersey's LGBTQ+ community.

Celebrating our unique culture and the work of Jersey's incredible artists is central to who we are as an Island and to how we present ourselves to the world.

Reform Jersey previously secured the biggest improvement in years in how the government funds the development and preservation of our arts, culture and heritage offering. This includes securing funding to protect Jèrriais language teaching, as an important part of our identity. We will ensure that this is protected and will oppose attempts to reduce funding. We also spearheaded the annual Corn Riots Festival, which celebrates our history and culture, whilst giving a public platform for Jersey's talented performers. We will ensure this important event remains a feature of Jersey's cultural calendar.

We will update Jersey's entertainment licensing legislation, so venues and organisers have an easier framework to navigate when putting on performances for Islanders to enjoy.

Ensuring Islanders have access to high-quality sports facilities, clubs, and opportunities to be active is vital for our health, wellbeing, and sense of community. Sport should be recognised as a key part of a preventative health strategy, reducing pressure on public services while improving quality of life. People of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities must be able to take part.

We have supported Jersey Sport as it has taken on a stronger role in shaping policy and expanding participation. We will build on this by working in partnership with the sector to deliver investment in facilities and grassroots sport, giving clubs the stability they need to grow and ensuring that no community is left without access to opportunities to be active.

Sport in Jersey depends on strong connections beyond our Island. We will work to address the travel challenges faced by clubs, athletes and supporters, ensuring that cost and access are not barriers to participation. At the same time, we want to promote more on-Island competitions that attract participants and spectators from elsewhere. We believe in recognising sporting achievement and giving our community something to take pride in, while inspiring the next generation to get involved.

A thriving and resilient economy is fundamental to Jersey's success. Without it, nothing else is sustainable. Reform Jersey understands that supporting businesses and our industries is essential to delivering secure employment, long term investment and the public revenues on which strong public services depend.

Throughout this term of office, we have consistently supported Jersey's traditional industries. For agriculture and fisheries, we supported the reforms and enhancements made to the government loan schemes, to ensure businesses can remain viable, competitive and open to new entrants. We will safeguard and strengthen these schemes, working with industry to deliver the further support and reform needed for long-term sustainability. We also supported the introduction of a new Licensing Law, providing a more modern framework for hospitality businesses with fewer unnecessary barriers.

We co-produced the Better Business Support Package, which delivered millions of pounds of support to small businesses to upgrade their administration systems, invest in technology and productivity improvements, and support their employees in the transition to a Living Wage. We believe that when changes are asked of businesses, the government must work in partnership with them to deliver it as effectively as possible to safeguard jobs and opportunities. Equally, when businesses believe there are opportunities for growth, the government should be responsive and prepared to work with them.

We are particularly enthusiastic about the opportunities offered by Jersey's growing 'green' finance sector. As businesses around the world seek to improve their environmental credentials and invest in new green technologies and infrastructure, Jersey's finance industry is well placed to provide these services. We also endorse the 'Time To Win' report, which outlines steps that must be taken to support the finance industry into the future.

We will investigate the feasibility of establishing a publicly owned bank, similar to that which exists in Gibraltar. We believe this has the potential to provide financing services to Islanders and businesses which they may struggle to find elsewhere.

Jersey's connectivity is critical to our economy, yet there is no doubt that our ferry service is not delivering as it should. We will review freight arrangements, including the flat rate card, and pursue stronger collaboration with Guernsey than we have experienced in recent years.

We want to position Jersey as a destination for businesses and entrepreneurs who are committed to contributing to our Island's success.

While the existing High Value Residency relocation scheme has brought some people to Jersey who have made a consideration contribution to Island life, overall it has had insufficient focus on ensuring wider benefits for the Island. We believe there is an opportunity to sharpen our focus to ensure Jersey secures greater economic value from inward investment, rather than serving as a platform for those purely seeking to mitigate their tax liability elsewhere.

We will ensure that Jersey benefits directly from these relocations, with investment that supports local jobs, builds expertise, and contributes to a more dynamic and resilient economy, as well as providing a greater tangible contribution to Jersey's charities.

Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, yet many find themselves held back by unnecessary bureaucracy. We will work with businesses to identify and cut red tape that serves no useful purpose, freeing up time and energy for growth and innovation. We will do this without compromising on safety standards for workers and customers.

Our approach is collaborative. We believe in working in partnership with representative bodies and those on the frontline of the economy, recognising that government does not always have all the answers. By listening and responding, we can create a business environment that supports enterprise while maintaining high standards.

As advances in artificial intelligence and digital technology reshape the economy, Jersey must be ready to adapt and take advantage of the opportunities this presents. This will need to be underpinned by a strategy for the responsible development and use of artificial intelligence in our economy and public services.

We will ensure Islanders are equipped to benefit from these changes by strengthening pathways into digital careers, working alongside local expertise to achieve this. At the same time, we will support entrepreneurs to start and grow businesses here, while helping workers retrain where roles are disrupted. Technology should work for everyone, creating opportunity, driving growth, and building a more resilient and inclusive economy.

Ensuring that Jersey has a well-educated population, with access to opportunities for training and lifelong learning, is fundamental to building a workforce that can meet the Island's future needs. In a changing economy, skills must be continually developed and renewed. Education must be seen as a foundation that supports people throughout their lives.

Reform Jersey wishes to see an education system which enables every Islander to reach their full potential and provides opportunities for everyone to gain the skills they need to thrive in the modern economy. This means removing barriers to opportunity, investing in high-quality provision at every stage of life, and ensuring that no one is left behind as our economy evolves.

During the first half of the last term, children and their families faced unprecedented disruption due to industrial action taken by teachers in response to poorly handled negotiations by the then government. When the new government was formed and a Reform Jersey member was appointed as Education Minister, he was able to end these strikes on the first day of taking office by entering meaningful dialogue with those who work in our schools and addressing the longstanding legitimate concerns they had. This partnership approach must continue under the new government.

Failing to maintain our infrastructure today comes at a greater cost in future years. Reform Jersey believes in taking a long-term, responsible approach to infrastructure, so the Island is prepared for the challenges ahead.

In particular, the next government must ensure that plans are put into action to resolve the problems in our ailing drainage infrastructure and that our coastal sea defences are strengthened and maintained to protect communities from the growing risks of rising sea levels and extreme weather events.

Protecting Jersey's natural environment is central to our quality of life and to the legacy we leave for future generations. Our countryside, coastline, and marine environment are among our greatest assets, and they must be safeguarded.

The next States Assembly will be responsible for developing a new Island Plan to guide planning and development. We will support measures that protect our natural environment, enhance the quality and character of our built environment, and ensure our coast and marine areas are properly preserved and managed.

We will support practical measures to protect biodiversity, improve tree cover, restore habitats, and ensure development works with, rather than against, the natural environment.

While Jersey alone cannot solve climate change, we will feel its effects. Rising sea levels, extreme weather, and environmental pressures require a serious and proactive response. We will support practical measures to reduce emissions, strengthen resilience, and ensure that our infrastructure is prepared for the challenges ahead.

We pioneered the 'Green Apprenticeships' programme, in partnership with Highlands College and Jersey Electricity, to create training opportunities for young people in the jobs that we will need as we move to reduce our carbon emissions.

We also recognise the importance of addressing environmental contamination risks such as PFAS. We support the establishment of the Independent PFAS Scientific Advisory Panel for Jersey and are committed to taking expert advice on both historic exposure and future regulation and monitoring. We agree with the Panel's view that Jersey needs a clear, locally owned and enforceable approach to PFAS in drinking water.

A well-managed transport network should make everyday life easier, cheaper, and cleaner. It should reduce congestion, cut pollution, and give Islanders real choice in how they get around. Reform Jersey believes a more joined-up approach should be pursued.

Transport is also one of Jersey's largest sources of carbon emissions. If we are serious about playing our part in the response to climate change, we must make it easier for people to choose lower-carbon ways of getting around. That means improving public transport, supporting active travel, and ensuring cleaner technologies are accessible, so that reducing emissions goes hand in hand with improving daily life.

We have already taken steps to make public transport more accessible, securing the introduction of the young person's bus pass, giving unlimited travel for a year at an affordable cost. We want to build on this principle, widening access where it is practical and sustainable, so that cost is less of a barrier to getting around the Island.

Our priority will be to develop a new, comprehensive Transport Strategy that brings together the bus service, cycling infrastructure, and other forms of travel into a single, coherent plan. This will focus on improving reliability, expanding choice, and making it easier for Islanders to move around without always relying on a car. Alongside this, we will support the infrastructure needed for electric vehicles, ensuring Jersey is prepared for the transition to cleaner transport while continuing to reduce overall emissions.

Reform Jersey believes that Jersey must be outward looking, inclusive and engaging with our international partners on the issues where we can have a positive impact and which will enhance our prosperity.

We currently enjoy the best of both worlds, by having a close constitutional relationship with the United Kingdom whilst having full domestic autonomy so we can entirely choose for ourselves how we are governed. We will defend Jersey's autonomy, including when our interests do not align with those of the United Kingdom. We will continue to build our relationships with leaders from the other jurisdictions we work closely with and seek to develop closer ties with our French neighbours in Brittany and Normandy.

We will continue to support Jersey's Overseas Aid Commission in facilitating development in areas dealing with the consequences of war, natural disasters and economic deprivation. We must be proud of the contribution that Jersey makes and understand the positive impact it has on our international reputation and increasing business links with developing countries.

As an Island that has faced hardship, occupation and isolation within living memory, we have a special obligation to ensure that we stand in solidarity with those around the world facing their own injustices. The genocide which has been committed in Palestine over the last two years has served as a clear moral litmus test, where many countries have failed to uphold their legal obligations to prevent these crimes from taking place. We will never allow any activity to take place in Jersey which is complicit with crimes against humanity, or which contravene international humanitarian law.

Since Covid, Jersey's government expenditure has grown at a faster rate than our economy has. This is unsustainable and it is questionable whether we have seen a commensurate improvement in the services we receive for that cost.

Much of the growth has been in the cost of administration, rather than frontline services. Unnecessary processes have been created that constitute little more than box-ticking exercises, which divert time and energy away from delivering services. Reform Jersey believes that much of this is down to our system of government where most members are independents who are not aligned to a shared vision or mandate, and therefore can easily fall into a silo when they are elected, which makes it impossible for the joined up and disciplined approach to get best value for money.

Reform Jersey is the only grouping within our politics that is capable of leading on this, because our members share a common manifesto and work together in ways that independents never can. We are therefore uniquely placed to lead on delivering value for money in the public sector.

We will further reduce spending on consultants, strengthen financial discipline, improve procurement, and publish clearer performance information so Islanders can see whether public money is delivering real results. We will consolidate services and departments where they are being delivered inefficiently, and fix the government's IT infrastructure so departments can work together properly.

Our approach is not austerity. We will not cut for the sake of cutting. Our aim is to reduce waste, remove duplication, and ensure public money is focused on the services and infrastructure Islanders actually rely on.

Islanders must be able to have confidence that when things go wrong in government, there is a clear, fair, and independent way to put them right. Too often, people who raise complaints about public services feel ignored, passed from department to department, or left without proper resolution.

We recognise the important role played by the States of Jersey Complaints Board, which has provided an accessible route for Islanders to challenge decisions. However, the current system does not always provide the authority that Islanders expect from modern public services.

Reform Jersey remains committed to strengthening independent oversight of government and moving Jersey towards a Public Services Ombudsman model. This must be done in a way that is proportionate and cost-effective, by building on the structures we already have, rather than creating unnecessary bureaucracy.

Our approach will be to enhance and evolve the existing system, giving it greater visibility, stronger powers, and clearer routes for Islanders to seek redress. Over time, this will allow us to develop a more formal ombudsman-style function that delivers fairness, accountability, and confidence in how government responds when things go wrong.

Reform Jersey remains committed to delivering a democratic framework that truly empowers Islanders to determine how our government works for them.

We are committed to a simplified, more modern and equitable electoral system. We support a States Assembly made up of one category of member, where every Islander has an equal vote. Ultimately, voters should be able to cast their ballots online, safely and securely, and voting in person should be made easier and more user-friendly. The role of unelected participants in the States Assembly should be minimised. A simpler and more democratic system will enable us to enhance and strengthen public understanding, participation, and awareness of Jersey's democratic processes through broad, cross-sector collaboration, education and support.

We wish to see more participation in Jersey's honorary system and the Parishes. We will empower Parishes to be able to hold public votes over the course of a day (like a mini-referendum) on matters within their remit, and align elections for Parish roles to provide a greater focus on local democracy.

St Helier, as the capital of the Island and main economic centre, should have its municipal administration structure reformed to be more responsive to the needs of residents and businesses. An elected council should be established to take on more powers on licensing, entertainment and some services which it could deliver more efficiently than central government.