Geoff Southern Standing for Senator

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VOTE FOR EXPERIENCE

The government of Jersey needs a change of direction, I believe I can use my experience and knowledge to bring this about. I have been highly active as deputy for St Holier No 2 district for 8 years. I have tried to represent the interests of all sectors of society, especially the least well off.
 

Current ministerial policy is creating an ever-widening gap between the "haves' and 'have-nots'. It is hardworking low and middle earners who are now feeling the squeeze. We must - whatever our political views - strive to work together to achieve the best possible Jersey for all.

VOTE FOR TEAMWORK

As a backbencher I have:

• Protected school milk (3 times)

• Reduced income tax for  low earners

• Raised the  “20% means 20%" thresholds for middle earners

• Improved employment rights

• Protected student worker rates of pay

• Raised the minimum wage

• Reduced hospital waiting times

• Introduced redundancy payments

• Secured funds for the Town Park

• Introduced tenant deposit protector

• The increased success I have had has been largely founded on successful co-operation with other progressive politicians in the States.

VOTE FOR LEADERSHIP

As Chairman of the Economic Affairs and Income Support scrutiny panels I have built and led effective teams working with members from all sectors of society. We have produced hard-hitting and effective reports on Jersey Post. Jersey Finance and most importantly on the sale of Jersey Telecom. I am engaged in the most comprehensive study of poverty on the island to form the basis of future social policy.

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VOTE TO PROTECT

PUBLIC SERVICES

How we cope with the impact of this recession is the most important issue of the day. Senator Ozouf proposes a massive programme of public sector cuts. His target of £50m will mean significant loss of both services and jobs. I believe this approach puts the recovery at risk. We need a more balanced approach. There must be private sector jobs for to absorb workers laid off from the public sector. Only when it is clear that the economy is firmly into growth should major cuts be considered.
 

Its jobs we need - not cuts

VOTE FOR FAIRER TAXES

The JDA has always opposed GST and supported progressive tax measures. There is no doubt that GST must be removed from essentials a: the earliest possible opportunity, "20 means 20" unfairly targets middle earners. Both of these unfair taxes could be eliminated by dealing with the inequities in Social Security contributions. We must also set proper tax levels on 1(1)(k) wealthy residents, and examine Land Value Tax.

• Call Geoff on 728231

• email  g.southern@gov.je

•  Geoff Southern's Biography

VOTE FOR

POPULATION CONTROL

The Council of Ministers, led by Senator Ozouf has until recently allowed rampart uncontrolled population growth (90,000 and rising) largely through runaway immigration. This unsustainable growth undermines protection of our green fields and will lead to over development in town, it will promote policies to control population growth.

VOTE FOR

GOVERNMENT REFORM

I am fully committed to States reform. I will continue to support with a comprehensive package of reforms based on Clothier to include: a single type of member; a general election: direct voting for the Chief Minister: an end to the dual roles of the Bailiff and  the Attorney-General and a complete overhaul of the registration on and voting systems.

VOTE FOR LOCAL BUSINESS

I campaigned alongside the Chamber of Commerce against the costs imposed on local businesses by GST Many small businesses are now struggling against competition from the internet, and yet foreign-owned non-finance companies will pay no tax under zero-ten tax.  I will also investigate whether the Regulations of Undertakings Law is fairly applied to both large and small businesses. 

TO ALL JERSEY WORKERS AND THEIR REPRESENTATIVES

I was a teacher for 20 years and was highly active in union affairs. I was president of the local branch of the NUT for two years and attended the Easter national conference twice.

When I left teaching I was a support worker for the homeless for 8 years. During this time I joined Unite ( the union) . Since becoming a Deputy in the States I have maintained my union membership.

In 2005 I was a co-founder, with Ted Vibert of Jersey’s only political party, the Jersey Democratic Alliance. I ensured that support for Trade Unions was built into our founding principles. I have ensured ever since that we have maintained close ties with the unions.

Early in my career in the States I was moved to fight proposed cuts in spending in the budget and successfully fought off an attempt to remove the funding from school milk with the support of many teachers. I also ensured that the jobs of foreign language assistants, whose funding was under threat, were successfully protected.

I support progressive taxation, and have successfully raised income tax allowances to benefit low and middle earners and raised thresholds on 20 means 20 to further protect middle earners. I’m entirely opposed to both GST on food and other essentials and to the principle of 20 means 20 which unfairly targets middle earners.

I have been heavily engaged in trade union issues ever since in close co-operation with Unite, fighting and winning improvements to the Employment Law (Jersey) 2003 and to the Employment Relations Law over the right to recognition for unions and the right to representation for their members. I also presented a petition over the Employment Relations Law following a reference to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) concerning the restrictive nature of the law and its human rights implications.

As part of the JDA, I successfully won statutory notice payments for the sacked Woolworths workers and other employees who were made redundant. It took me three goes, but I succeeded in getting redundancy payments through the States after a delay of some 15 years.

After the Treasury Minister arbitrarily imposed a wage freeze on States Employees in 2009, I attempted to get a flat rate payment of over £1 000 for all public employees as an alternative to a percentage rise, in order to help the lower paid. Following the withdrawal of funding, which the JDA opposed, my colleague Shona Pitman brought a Rescindment Motion, which was rejected by the States.

Most recently I have successfully persuaded the States to raise the minimum wage over a number of years from 40 to 45% of the average wage. I have been active in attempting to save jobs at Jersey Telecom, Jersey Water, and am also pursuing attempts to stop competition from destroying our postal service along with the jobs of postmen.

I am already fighting Public Sector cuts and have suggested alternative ways of raising the money to maintain services. I marched with the teachers in their rally to oppose spending cuts and addressed the marchers to offer my whole-hearted backing for their fight for the restoration of full negotiating rights.

I have always been a strong Trade Unionist. If elected as Senator I will continue to support Trade Unions and the workers with an even stronger mandate.

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THE REASON FOR STANDING

Many of you have wondered what has been going on, with Geoff Southern's somewhat unexpected decision to stand against Stuart Syvret. And it is very much a question of standing against Syvret, as well as the heavyweight challenge of Francis le Gresley, not seeking a futile upgrade in Geoff's job title. We have seen some lively comments on the Council's blog, not all supportive, but many asking for explanation.  Geoff has been too busy with organising a campaign in a hurry to prepare a soundbite-packed Press Statement, but we can now quote at length from an email in which he explains his position to a leading activist from outside the party.

Geoff admits “I have struggled with this decision over the last few weeks. I originally said that I would not stand against Stuart if he stood, as we share some common principles.  I assure you this has not been an easy decision to make.”
 

“However,” he goes on to explain, “ many people have approached me to indicate that they had lost faith in Stuart and asking whether JDA would stand a candidate. Many said that they were unable to bring themselves to vote for Stuart and might not vote at all. I have tried to find ways to get another credible candidate but have been unable to do so.” Geoff correctly anticipated the tenor of the comments on our blog and others with his prediction that “Stuart has a core vote that will stick. I will not take those votes, I believe. Those who cannot bring themselves to vote for Stuart would in my absence vote Le Gresley if at all. Those are votes I can pick up, based on my record.”

Despite the protests of Syvret's die-hard followers, their man has been less of a leader in the States than they like to think. Geoff reviews his recent performance, as seen by fellow progressives: “I too have been disillusioned and disappointed by Stuart's behaviour. I feel his action in leaving the island has contributed very little to the debate over child abuse and cover-ups, let alone corruption.

Many of us have attempted to carry on the fight here on the island including Bob, Trevor and Monty. Stuart's absence from the fight was I believe largely counter-productive... In the meantime I have helped investigate and publish positive moves to prevent abuse in our Protecting Vulnerable Children report. “I'm sorry but I have been [working flat out] establishing a party for the last 5 years in the face of incredible opposition. Stuart has maintained his position as outside any party throughout. Whilst we have been fighting public sector cuts, lifting the minimum wage, fighting the wage freeze etc, Stuart has largely sat on the sidelines. I have been trying to form a broader team with other progressives (success over Town Park and redundancy payments). Where was Stuart? Off island.

”Stuart Syvret is clearly so well-loved by his loyalists that we would simply not be believed, were we to leak the whole story of his bombastic threats against us.  

However, Geoff cites the tip of the iceberg. “Apart from his bullying tactics in stating that all not on his side are his enemies, the final straw for me came with his statement that the only way forward was the forming of an undefined party, his party, to bring about change. This is a line we have often heard from Stuart but he has never followed through. He was invited to join (and indeed lead) the JDA by both Ted and later by me . He refused.” Geoff draws clear conclusions from all this, as these final quotes show:

“The fact is that after 5 years of struggle I believe that the JDA is the spearhead of a progressive movement which is increasingly respected. Stuart sits outside it and is trying to bully others out of the way. Stuart's way is "my way or no way" it seems. His politics remains personal and not collective. For the JDA to not stand a credible candidate in this election and give the centre-left a way forward  would be a failure of its duty. Whilst we have been striving to create cohesion, Stuart has  chosen to remain apart ... If the JDA were to duck this challenge, many would conclude that we are not a serious political force. Success in this election does not leave us static, but establishes us with an island-wide mandate and the chance to increase our numbers in the following Deputy by-election in St Helier 2.

“This is not a zero growth policy. It could be a gain. Neither is it due to my personal ambition. I would love to stand aside, but I believe that would damage the party. Like it or not JDA must stand, and equally like it or not, I happen to be the best available candidate. All I ask is a fair contest. Politics is a numbers game, but to predict worst outcomes is defeatist. It has held us back for years. I will not join in. I think the JDA has won the right to carry the banner of the progressives. We will not go away.”

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