Gender reveal for speakers at election lunch event brings 'obvious imbalance' - Jersey Evening Post
by Tom Innes · Jersey Evening PostPosted inNews
Gender reveal for speakers at election lunch event brings ‘obvious imbalance’
by Tom Innes 20 May 202619 May 2026
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ORGANISERS have admitted to “an obvious gender imbalance” in the line-up of speakers at a networking lunch… but say this was the result of a fair vote among those attending.
Those buying tickets for the monthly gathering organised by Jersey Chamber of Commerce were asked to vote for the five Senatorial candidates they wanted to see on the panel.
From a list of 17 nominees for the Islandwide role at next month’s election, none of the four female candidates finished in the top five for the Chamber lunch. Ex-England netball captain Serena Kersten Guthrie was in sixth place, just ahead of eighth-placed Treasury Minister Elaine Millar. Former Home Affairs Minister Helen Miles ranked ninth, while the politician who took over at Home Affairs in January 2024, Deputy Mary Le Hegarat, finished in 14th place.
Chamber chief executive Murray Norton admitted that there was an “obvious gender imbalance”, but said organisers would be sticking to the selection method agreed in advance.
“It is noticeable that there are no women within the top five selected candidates,” he said. “However, Jersey Chamber had to adhere to the outcome of the vote as cast by ticket holders – with only four female candidates standing within a field of 17, there was always the possibility that gender balance may not naturally emerge within a five-person panel selected in this way.”
Deputy Tom Binet, who was elected as Infrastructure Minister following the 2022 election before switching to Health 18 months later, finished top of the poll, which gave all those chosen between one and five points depending where they ranked in voters’ top five. Behind Deputy Binet’s tally of 179 points came runner-up Sir Mark Boleat, former political lead for the City of London, with 158 points and current Chief Minister Lyndon Farnham (148).
The other selected speakers will be External Relations Minister Ian Gorst and former Treasury Minister Alan Maclean, who amassed 131 and 130 points respectively.
Mr Norton said the results gave “an interesting snapshot of business sentiment at this stage of the campaign” but also warned against making comparisons with the election itself.
“One is a Chamber lunch hustings event for around 220 people, while the other is an Islandwide public election involving many thousands of voters,” he said.
Deputies Millar and Le Hegarat were two of four current ministers to miss out on the top five, the others being Housing Minister Sam Mézec (seventh) and Environment Minister Steve Luce (12th).
Mr Norton added: “With 95 valid votes cast from 204 ticket holders, representing a turnout of just under 47%, the process has provided a useful indication of which candidates attendees most wanted to hear from ahead of the event. Using a weighted preference system allowed attendees to express not just who they most wanted to hear from, but also the strength and breadth of support across the wider field of candidates.
Tickets for tomorrow’s lunch at the Radisson Blu hotel cost £36 for individual Chamber members or £48 for non-members, with corporate tables of ten priced at £480 and £580 respectively.
Full results of Chamber of Commerce survey:
Tom Binet – 179 points
Sir Mark Boleat – 158 points
Lyndon Farnham – 148 points
Ian Gorst – 131 points
Alan Maclean – 130 points
Serena Kersten – 121 points
Sam Mézec – 113 points
Elaine Millar – 83 points
Helen Miles – 70 points
Bernard Place – 45 points
Martin Aliga – 40 points
Steve Luce – 28 points
Alan Le Pavoux – 27 points
Mary Le Hegarat – 27 points
Karl Busch – 18 points
Guy de Faye – 17 points
Alan Breckon – 15 points
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