Jersey Democratic Alliance

The JDA was a centre-left political party. Its stated aims and objectives in 2011 were:{{cite web|url=http://jdajersey.co.uk/JDAs%20Aims%20and%20Objectives.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081204091630/http://jdajersey.co.uk/JDAs%20Aims%20and%20Objectives.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2008-12-04 |title=Aims and objectives |access-date=2011-09-04 |work=jdajersey.co.uk |publisher=Jersey Democratic Alliance }}

• "Government in Jersey should be open, honest and transparent."
• "The public interest will be paramount at all times."
• "Government in Jersey will be open, honest and transparent."
• "Trade unions will be recognised as an important part of Jersey society."
• "The role of States members is to do the greatest good for the greatest number."
• "The JDA believes that Jersey is a special place with unique laws and customs, countryside, traditions, language and privileges and that these must be preserved and maintained when it is clear that their retention is appropriate."
• "To ensure that policies put forward promote the values enshrined in the European Convention of Human Rights."
• "We have now added to those our number one aim which is to reform the States along the principles of Clothier."

In December 2006 the JDA presented an extensive and detailed proposal for electoral reform, to tackle Jersey's lack of political engagement among the general public.Low turnouts at the polls

In February 2007 the JDA released their environmental policy,[http://www.esnips.com/doc/9cc6e3c4-f1da-4cf8-b9c7-123318500ff9/JDA-Environment-Policy JDA Environmental Policy]{{Dead link|date=February 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} with a general moderate green outlook, and addressing Jersey's outdated approaches to waste disposal and building insulation in particular{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20071016211350/http://www.isthisjersey.com/news.php?item.182.9 JDA Environmental Policy]}}.

On 12 July 2007 the JDA teamed up with the Jersey Chamber of Commerce and the Jersey Hospitality Association to address concerns over the introduction of Goods and Services Tax (GST) planned for April 2008,{{Cite web |url=http://www.isthisjersey.com/comment.php?comment.news.248 |title=GST meeting |access-date=2 August 2007 |archive-date=16 October 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071016084017/http://www.isthisjersey.com/comment.php?comment.news.248 |url-status=usurped }} they also issued a statement on the planned 'Zero-Ten' corporate tax rates.{{Cite web |url=http://www.esnips.com/doc/56d9e7b6-fe27-462b-924f-efc5511ab2b2/JDA-Zero-ten-Statement |title=JDA Zero Ten statement |access-date=2 August 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080607065209/http://www.esnips.com/doc/56d9e7b6-fe27-462b-924f-efc5511ab2b2/JDA-Zero-ten-Statement |archive-date=7 June 2008 |url-status=dead }}

The JDA was formed in the spring of 2005 in response to constitutional reforms due to be introduced in December 2005, when the States of Jersey Law 2005 implemented recommendations of the Clothier review by creating a system of ministerial government—with Council of Ministers headed by a Chief Minister in place of a committee-based system of administration.

The party was launched in April 2005 at a mass rally of 1,000 people held at Fort Regent, with the intention of fielding candidates in the 2005 elections of senators and deputies to the States of Jersey.{{cite journal | title = New party throws down a challenge | journal = Jersey Evening Post | date = 7 April 2005 | first = Ben | last = Querée | url = http://www.thisisjersey.com/2005/04/07/new-party-throws-down-a-challenge/ | access-date = 2011-08-29 | archive-date = 15 September 2012 | archive-url = https://archive.today/20120915105827/http://www.thisisjersey.com/2005/04/07/new-party-throws-down-a-challenge/ | url-status = usurped }} The JDA's founder was Senator Ted Vibert, a returned expatriate and veteran activist in the Australian Labor Party who had been elected to the States of Jersey in February 2003. In June 2005, however, Vibert announced that on medical advice he would not be standing for re-election in the October 2005 election.{{Cite news

| title = Island politician takes back seat

| newspaper = BBC News

| date = 25 June 2005

| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/jersey/4622069.stm

| access-date =4 September 2011 }};

{{Cite news

| title = Politician announces resignation

| newspaper = BBC News

| date = 13 September 2005

| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/jersey/4240788.stm

| access-date = 4 September 2011}} His successor as head of the party, Tony Keogh (a retired rector of Trinity), also stepped down on medical advice. In June 2005, Geoff Southern was elected as party leader.{{cite journal | title = Party's members to choose chief | journal = BBC News | date = 2005-05-26| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/jersey/4717065.stm | access-date = 2011-09-04}} Some members, including Senator Paul Le Claire feared that under Southern the JDA would move too far to the left, and formed the Centre Party.{{cite journal | title = Jersey senator quits ruling party | journal = BBC News | date = 2005-07-18| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/jersey/4694709.stm | access-date = 2011-09-04}} At the JDA's inaugural annual general meeting in July 2005, Southern said that "the party would continue to maintain the centre ground of politics despite claims from a breakaway group that the alliance had moved to the left under his leadership".{{cite journal | title = We're ready for the polls, say JDA | journal = Jersey Evening Post | date = 2005-07-27 | first = Harry | last = McRandle| url = http://www.thisisjersey.com/2005/07/27/were-ready-for-the-polls-say-jda/ | archive-url = https://archive.today/20130204111832/http://www.thisisjersey.com/2005/07/27/were-ready-for-the-polls-say-jda/ | url-status = usurped | archive-date = 4 February 2013 | access-date = 2011-09-04}} The JDA launched its manifesto to a crowd of 150 people in People's Park in September 2005.{{cite journal | title = Party launches election manifesto | journal = BBC News | date = 2005-09-19| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/jersey/4259934.stm | access-date = 2011-09-04}}

Following a poor performance in the 2005 elections, Steve Pallett replaced Geoff Southern as party leader and in 2006 the JDA announced that it would relaunch itself as a political pressure group rather than continue as a political party.{{cite journal | title = JDA relaunched as pressure group | journal = BBC News | date = 2006-05-25| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/jersey/5017176.stm | access-date = 2011-09-04}}; {{cite news | first = Ben | last = Quérée | title = The party's over for the Democratic Alliance | date = 2006-05-08 | url = http://www.thisisjersey.com/2006/05/08/the-partys-over-for-the-democratic-alliance/ | work = Jersey Evening Post | access-date = 2011-09-04}} In 2007, the JDA was awarded a grant of £27,805 from the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust, a political body that promotes democratic reform and social justice, "to ensure that the people of Jersey have the opportunity to vote for an opposition party that would scrutinise the government".{{cite web |url=http://www.jrrt.org.uk/index.php?result_page=2&page=grants-awarded&sortby=year-desc&category=Raw%20Politics |title=Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust - Grants awarded |author= |work=jrrt.org.uk |year=2011 |access-date=4 September 2011 |archive-date=22 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322201243/http://www.jrrt.org.uk/index.php?result_page=2&page=grants-awarded&sortby=year-desc&category=Raw%20Politics |url-status=dead }}

In 2008, the JDA distanced itself from the pressure group Time4Change.{{cite news | title = We have cut our ties with Time4Change | date = 2008-11-25 | url = http://www.thisisjersey.com/2008/11/25/we-have-cut-our-ties-with-time4change/ | work = Jersey Evening Post | access-date = 2011-09-04}}; {{cite news | first = Geoff | last = Southern | title = No makeover | date = 2008-11-25 | url = http://www.thisisjersey.com/2008/11/25/no-makeover-the-jda-has-not-changed-its-principles-since-2005/ | work = Jersey Evening Post | access-date = 2011-09-04}}

Following the 2008 elections, two successful JDA candidates — Geoff Southern and Shona Pitman — were charged with breaching Article 39A of the Public Elections (Jersey) Law 2002,{{cite web | url=https://www.jerseylaw.je/laws/current/l_12_2002 | title = Public Elections (Jersey) Law 2002 | access-date = 2011-08-31 | website=Jersey Legal Information Board| df = dmy-all }}{{failed verification|date=November 2022}} which prohibits a candidate or representative from interfering with a person's application for registration to vote. Southern and Pitman had opposed the introduction of this law when it was debated in the States assembly in 2008. He said he would "continue to assist people who ask me to help them fill in the form … I am among those who may well be prosecuted under the bureaucratic nonsense of a piece of law" and she said "… if this [the prohibition created by Article 39A] goes through as law I will ignore it and continue with collecting these postal votes".{{cite web | url = http://www.statesassembly.gov.je | title = States of Jersey, Official Report, Tuesday 10 June 2008 | access-date = 2011-09-01}} On 20 February 2009, Pitman and Southern pleaded guilty in Magistrate's Court to breaking the law "by assisting about 70 elderly, infirm or busy people to complete a postal vote application form in the election and/or delivering their completed forms" and they were committed to the Royal Court for sentencing.{{cite journal | title = Deputy admits breaking law | journal = Jersey Evening Post | date = 2009-02-05 | first = Diane | last = Simon | url = http://www.thisisjersey.com/2009/02/05/deputy-admits-breaking-law-on-postal-votes/ | access-date = 2011-09-01 }}; {{cite web |url=http://www.channelonline.tv/channelonline_jerseynews/displayarticle.asp?id=405682 |title=Deputies to challenge prosecution - Jersey News from ITV Channel Television - channelonline.tv |author= |work=channelonline.tv |year=2011 |access-date=4 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322232907/http://www.channelonline.tv/channelonline_jerseynews/displayarticle.asp?id=405682 |archive-date=22 March 2012 |url-status=dead }} In mitigation their advocate submitted that the law infringed the human rights of the disabled and infirm to take part in the electoral process and the debate on Article 39A in the States had been flawed. Southern was sentenced to a fine of £10,000 and Pitman to a fine of £2,000.{{cite court

|litigants=Attorney General v Shona Pitman and Geoffrey Peter Southern

|vol=

|reporter=[2009] JRC 102

|opinion=

|pinpoint=

|court=Royal Court of Jersey

|date=20 May 2009

|url=https://www.jerseylaw.je/judgments/unreported/Pages/%912009%93JRC102.aspx

|quote=

}};

{{cite court

|litigants=Attorney General v Shona Pitman and Geoffrey Peter Southern

|vol=

|reporter= [2009] JRC 106

|opinion=

|pinpoint=

|court=Royal Court of Jersey

|date= 20 May 2009

|url=https://www.jerseylaw.je/judgments/unreported/Pages/%912009%93JRC106.aspx

|quote=

}} The party launched a "Fund for Justice" for people to make contributions towards the fines and court costs.{{cite news | first = Ramsay | last = Cudlipp | title = JDA start fund to pay fines | date = 2009-06-13 | url = http://www.thisisjersey.com/2009/06/13/jda-start-fund-to-pay-fines/ | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090619112422/http://www.thisisjersey.com/2009/06/13/jda-start-fund-to-pay-fines/ | url-status = usurped | archive-date = 19 June 2009 | work = Jersey Evening Post | access-date = 2011-09-04}}

In the summer of 2010, Vibert returned as honorary president of the party, having plans to move the JDA "from the left to the centre ground of Jersey politics".{{cite news | first = Ben | last = Quérée | title = Plans to move JDA from left to centre of politics | date = 2010-08-13 | url = http://www.thisisjersey.com/2010/08/13/plans-to-move-jda-from-left-to-centre-of-politics/ | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100816122404/http://www.thisisjersey.com/2010/08/13/plans-to-move-jda-from-left-to-centre-of-politics/ | url-status = usurped | archive-date = 16 August 2010 | work = Jersey Evening Post | access-date = 2011-09-04}}

Deputies Pitman, Pitman and de Sousa resigned from the JDA, along with the party's deputy chairman David Rotherham, in August 2010.{{cite web |url=http://www.channelonline.tv/channelonline_jerseynews/displayarticle.asp?id=490406 |title=JDA in turmoil - Jersey News from ITV Channel Television - channelonline.tv |work=channelonline.tv |year=2011 |access-date=4 September 2011 |archive-date=22 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322232858/http://www.channelonline.tv/channelonline_jerseynews/displayarticle.asp?id=490406 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://www.channelonline.tv/channelonline_jerseynews/displayarticle.asp?id=490441 |title=No new political party |last=Channel TV |work=channelonline.tv |year=2011 |access-date=4 September 2011 |archive-date=22 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322232818/http://www.channelonline.tv/channelonline_jerseynews/displayarticle.asp?id=490441 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web | url = http://jdacmb.blogspot.com/2010/08/nothing-more-to-say.html | title = Nothing more to say | access-date = 2011-09-04 | last = Rotherham | first = David |author2=Shona Pitman |author3=Trevor Pitman |author4=Debbie de Sousa | date = 2010-08-15 | work = JDA Council Members blog}} In the run-up to the October 2011 elections, the three deputies continued to sit as independents, leaving Southern as the only member of the States assembly formally affiliated to a political party.{{cite journal | title = Is the party over? | journal = Jersey Evening Post | date = 16 August 2010 | first = Ben | last = Querée | url = http://www.thisisjersey.com/2010/08/16/is-the-party-over/ | access-date = 2011-08-29}}; {{cite news | department=Editorial | title = A blow for party politics | date = 2010-08-16 | url = http://www.thisisjersey.com/2010/08/16/a-blow-for-party-politics/ | work = Jersey Evening Post | access-date = 2011-09-04}}

In May 2011, Vibert resigned as party leader, citing policy differences.{{cite news | title = Jersey party to continue despite loss of president | date = 2011-05-13 | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-jersey-13393281 | work = BBC News | access-date = 2011-09-04 }}; {{cite web |url=http://www.channelonline.tv/channelonline_jerseynews/displayarticle.asp?id=494194 |title=JDA say 'disagreements' led to Vibert resignation - Jersey News from ITV Channel Television - channelonline.tv |work=channelonline.tv |year=2011 |access-date=4 September 2011 |archive-date=22 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322232813/http://www.channelonline.tv/channelonline_jerseynews/displayarticle.asp?id=494194 |url-status=dead }}

In August 2011, Southern announced that he would be standing as an independent in the October 2011 elections.{{cite journal | title = Jersey Democratic Alliance not standing in elections | journal = BBC News Jersey | date = 2011-08-31| url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-jersey-14732423 | access-date = 2011-09-01}} and {{cite journal | title = Last member of the JDA says he'll stand as independent | journal = Jersey Evening Post | date = 2011-09-03 | first = Ben | last = Querée | pages = 9| type = Print }} The party disbanded shortly afterwards.

In 2005, Geoff Southern and Denise Carroll stood as JDA candidates in elections for six vacant Senator seats in the States of Jersey. Both were unsuccessful, polling 10th and 13th of the fifteen candidates. In the subsequent elections for Deputies, the JDA followed the Centre Party in announcing that JDA members seeking election would do so as independents.

• In St Helier No.1 constituency, serving Deputy Judy Martin retained her seat
• In St Helier No.2, serving Deputy Geoff Southern was re-elected and newcomer Shona Pitman topped the poll
• In St Helier No.3 and 4, Denise Carroll was finished 5th and so failed to gain one of the four seats
• In St Brelade No.2, Steve Pallett was not elected.

In January 2008, JDA candidate Alvin Aaron was unsuccessful in his attempt to unseat Simon Crowcroft, the incumbent Connétable of St Helier.{{cite news | title = Election defeat: JDA to fight on | date = 2008-01-11 | url = http://www.thisisjersey.com/2008/01/11/election-defeat-jda-to-fight-on/ | archive-url = https://archive.today/20120912091205/http://www.thisisjersey.com/2008/01/11/election-defeat-jda-to-fight-on/ | url-status = usurped | archive-date = 12 September 2012 | work = Jersey Evening Post | access-date = 2011-09-04}}

In 2008, Geoff Southern and Trevor Pitman stood as JDA candidates for the six vacant Senator seats.{{cite news | first = Ben | last = Quérée | title = Senatorial candidates to stand under JDA banner | date = 2008-09-15 | url = http://www.thisisjersey.com/2008/09/15/senatorial-candidates-to-stand-under-jda-banner/ | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080919032434/http://www.thisisjersey.com/2008/09/15/senatorial-candidates-to-stand-under-jda-banner/ | url-status = usurped | archive-date = 19 September 2008 | work = Jersey Evening Post | access-date = 2011-09-04}} They failed to be elected, Southern finishing in 7th place and Pitman finishing 11th out of 21 candidates. In the subsequent elections for Deputies, the JDA achieved its greatest electoral success, with four of its five candidates elected. Geoff Southern, Shona Pitman and Debbie de Sousa took all three seats in the St Helier No. 2 constituency and Trevor Pitman gained one of the three seats in the St Helier No. 1 constituency.{{cite web | url = http://www.thisisjersey.com/election/deputies/st-helier-no-2/ | title = Jersey Evening Post Election 2008: St Helier No. 2 | access-date = 2011-08-29}}; {{cite web | url = http://www.thisisjersey.com/election/deputies/st-helier-no-1/ | title = Jersey Evening Post Election 2008: St Helier No. 1 | access-date = 2011-08-29}} JDA candidate Christine Papworth was unsuccessful in St Saviour No.2.{{cite news | title = Minister if casualty of election | date = 2008-11-27 | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/jersey/7751927.stm | work = BBC News | access-date = 2011-09-04}}

In June 2010, Southern stood in a by-election for a vacant senatorial seat, finishing fifth out of nine candidates.{{cite journal | title = Francis Le Gresley wins by-election | journal = BBC Jersey | date = 2010-06-06| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/jersey/hi/people_and_places/the_states/newsid_8723000/8723482.stm | access-date = 2011-08-31}}

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.esnips.com/doc/b1205742-1c4f-4b40-94d5-9631c84447d3/JDA_Constitution_5 JDA Constitution]{{Dead link|date=February 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

{{Jersey political parties}}

{{Jersey topics}}

Category:Defunct political parties in Jersey

Category:Political parties established in 2005

Category:2005 establishments in Jersey