Analysis: Farnham springs surprise with late selection of Reform ministerial nominee - Jersey Evening Post
by Tom Innes · Jersey Evening PostPosted inNews
Analysis: Farnham springs surprise with late selection of Reform ministerial nominee
by Tom Innes 28 June 202628 June 2026
Share this:
While Reform Jersey suffered a bloody nose at the election, losing its leader and former Housing Minister Sam Mézec as well as Education Minister Rob Ward, the party nonetheless returned seven deputies – enough, it would ordinarily be assumed, to secure at least one place around the Council of Ministers table.
Yet less than 24 hours before Lyndon Farnham unveiled his preferred ministerial line-up, Reform’s acting leader Lyndsay Feltham told the JEP that she expected the party to be left outside the ministerial tent altogether, given the Assembly’s apparent lurch to the right following the election.
Then came a surprise.
When Senator Farnham published his proposed “cast list” on Friday morning, Reform Deputy Catherine Curtis had been nominated as his preferred Education Minister – suggesting that a late political deal may have been struck.
The proposed ministerial team must still be approved by the States Assembly next week, and Members remain free to challenge individual nominations. There has been speculation that new St Helier North Deputy Victoria Li could yet contest the Education portfolio, while it is understood that Deputy Lucy Stephenson was also seriously considered for the role by her district colleague Senator Farnham.
Deputy Curtis said she had been asked about the Education Minister role by the Chief Minister Designate around a week ago.
“I wasn’t sure at the time, as I needed to think carefully about what I was best-placed to do in the Assembly,” she said. “I accepted late [on Thursday] as I believe the knowledge and experience I have gained while chairing the Education Scrutiny Panel for the past four years will equip me well for the role.”
With all candidates facing 20 minutes of questioning during Monday’s sitting, one interesting topic Deputy Curtis is likely to encounter will be the proposed new primary school on the Gas Place site in St Helier. The previous Education Minister, her Reform Jersey colleague Rob Ward, was a strong advocate for the school during his tenure.
Deputy Feltham said that, following discussions with Senator Farnham, she did not expect to return as Social Security Minister, the position she held between January 2024 and this month, nor to take up another ministerial role.
The acting leader met with her six Assembly colleagues on Wednesday to discuss whether the party would nominate candidates for any ministerial roles.
“We’re a principles-driven party and we need to put that first, ahead of thinking about what [ministerial] positions we might take,” she said. “Personally I am proud of what I managed to achieve during the past two years, but I needed to think about whether I could be as effective in the next government and I came to conclusion that probably I couldn’t.
“The mix of people [in the Council of Ministers] is going to be quite different from last time, and I think that will create a very different dynamic which will be more difficult for the Chief Minister to manage.
“I think some decisions that may to be taken, given the people involved, would have been difficult to go along with.”
While Deputy Feltham herself has not been proposed for ministerial office, Deputy Curtis has emerged as Senator Farnham’s preferred Education Minister, meaning Reform could yet retain a place at the Council of Ministers table.
On Thursday, Deputy Feltham said she had also been consulting senior figures within the party before reaching a decision on how the party should play ministerial “nomination day”.
“I’ve been in contact with Sam [Mézec] – he’s away at the moment and we want to allow him a bit of time, but he’s always keen to offer a view,” she said. “I met [retired Deputy] Geoff Southern earlier this week, I know how Rob [Ward] would view this and as a former party chair I’ve made sure our current chair [Helen Evans] is kept in the loop.”
She said the party would only be looking to take roles based on where they felt they could be most effective.
Even if Deputy Curtis is ultimately elected by the Assembly, Reform’s representation in the proposed Council of Ministers would be significantly reduced compared with the previous administration, when the party held the Housing, Social Security and Education portfolios.
At least one challenge from a Reform candidate is likely to feature on next week’s agenda, with Deputy Montfort Tadier likely to contest the Economic Development role with Deputy Gerald Voisin, Senator Farnham’s nominee.
However, it remains possible that one or two Reform members may end up in assistant minister roles – Deputy Feltham said this decision would be made once ministers had been elected.
Deputy Tadier has previously been an Assistant Economic Development Minister with responsibility for culture and arts, while Deputy Carina Alves held a number of Assistant Ministerial roles in the last government.
With chairs of the five Scrutiny panels, plus the Public Accounts Committee and Privileges and Procedure Committees, also being chosen next week, Deputy Feltham said she anticipated putting herself forward to head up one of the panels.
“Scrutiny needs good leadership – we are letting down the process if all the leadership lies in the Council of Ministers,” she said.
Reform Jersey is set to start the process of choosing a new leader in the coming days, with a decision potentially being reached during July. It is understood members may also consider rebranding, given the confusion – in some quarters – between the Jersey party and the right-wing Reform UK.
Related
Read the latest free supplements
Read the Homelife, Connect and a whole host of other subjects like ranging from cycling to travel.
View all our latest supplements now >