Jersey Democratic Alliance
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The Jersey Democratic Alliance is a centrist political party in Jersey. In contrast to the Jersey tradition of individual candidates with no clear ideology (which had prevailed for most of the 20th century), it has publicly stated aims and principles, including the production of full manifesti detailing how the aims would be pursued. With the prospect of ministerial government and the creation of an executive and opposition, it formed as a political party in April 2005 at a mass rally, with the intention of fielding candidates in the elections of October and November 2005. The party was founded by Senator Ted Vibert, a returned expatriate and veteran activist in the Australian Labour Party, who drew about 1,000 people to the rally, recruiting several States Members and numerous others.
Later in 2005 Senator Vibert announced that, on medical advice, he would not be standing for re-election on the party platform [1]. His successor as head of the movement, Tony Keogh, was also subsequently obliged on medical advice to withdraw as a candidate and step down.
Deputy Geoff Southern was elected to the vacant chair [2]. Some members, fearing that the party would move too far to the left, formed the Centre Party (Jersey), 'remaining true to the original vision of Senator Vibert'[3]
The party produced a manifesto of policies for the 2005 Senatorial Elections. This manifesto has since been a major source of ideas for the non-JDA Council of Ministers, ironically.
Chairman Deputy Geoff Southern and Secretary Denise Carroll stood for Senator, but failed to be elected by substantial margins.
Following the defeats in the Senatorial Elections, the JDA followed the Centre Party in sending its candidates into the Deputies' Elections as traditional independents. Both Geoff Southern and Judy Martin retained their seats, and were joined by Shona Pitman.
On 8 May 2006, the party announced that it was intending to reconstitute as a pressure group, with Deputy Southern resigning as chairman [4] However, at the subsequent General Meeting, the membership overwhelmingly voted to remain as a party.
In order to make a clear separation between the policy-based party and the personal supporters of its politicians, States Members were excluded from running for the party leadership. Steve Pallett became the new Chairman.
The party continues to actively develop policy, and in December 2006 presented an extensive and detailed proposal for electoral reform, to tackle Jersey's notorious lack of political engagement among the general public.
In February 2007 the JDA released their environmental policy, with a general moderate green outlook, and addressing Jersey's outdated approaches to waste disposal and building insulation in particular[5].
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