Having had a day or so to reflect on how grateful I am for the experience we have just shared. Crikey, and what an experience it was. Two things I had not expected. The first was the growing respect I felt for my fellow Senatorial candidates. We shared 13 times in public so much of who we are, why we…
The Household Budget Fallacy – Do Governments Spend Like Families First published in the Jersey Evening Post 2025-12-27 When a government spends more than it earns, the instinctive reaction is often one of alarm. In households, after all, this would be unsustainable. Families cannot spend more than they earn without consequence, so why should governments be any different? It’s a…
Reducing headcount can be right — but only if it’s done with process, purpose, and humanity. First published in the Jersey Evening Post 2025-1218 Cutting Agency Staff Isn’t as Simple as It Sounds Every Government Plan debate brings familiar refrains about “cutting headcount” and “getting rid of agency staff.” This year is no exception. Facing a tight fiscal outlook, Ministers…
The Broken Promise Between Generations and Giving Younger Islanders Back a Sense of Agency First published in the Jersey Evening Post 2025-11-13 Introduction: A Personal Unease I belong to a generation that was told – and for the most part believed – that hard work would bring reward, and that our children would naturally have more opportunities than we did.…
For the Island to flourish, the private and public sectors must work well together First published in the Jersey Evening Post 2025-10-17 Public and Private: In Praise of Interdependence We all know the stereotypes. One wears a lanyard and clocks off at 4:59. The other wears a tailored suit and makes money while others sleep. One is a public servant,…
How a Targeted Spend Local Scheme Could Help Families and the Local Economy First published in the Jersey Evening Post 2025-09-04 In recent months, Jersey’s declining birth rate has drawn increasing attention – and concern. The number of babies born in 2024 fell to its lowest in decades, and the downward trend appears to be continuing in early 2025. The…
A Fairer Road Ahead: Road Pricing, an Invitable Part of Jersey’s Future? First published in the Jersey Evening Post 2025-07-02 As electric vehicles become more common on Jersey’s roads, the Island faces a growing dilemma. The system we’ve used for decades to raise revenue – fuel duty – is under threat. Is now the time to begin embracing a new…
First published in the Jersey Evening Post 2025-06-18 Time for a Renewed Conversation about Targeted Economic Support Singapore is not known for being a soft touch. Its government is famously disciplined – fiscally cautious, politically controlled, socially conservative, and laser-focused on long-term national interest. Yet in recent years, it has embraced a policy that might surprise many who admire its…