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Alan Breckon

Deputy Alan Breckon of St Saviour has been in his current role for fifteen years and has a special interest in social justice and fair play.

He's the Chair of the Health, Social Security and Housing Scrutiny Panel and also the Chair of the Consumer Council, a group he helped set up more than a decade ago.

Deputy Breckon was an opponent of GST and says if he becomes a Senator he'll continue to push for the tax to be removed from food.

Manifesto

After 15 successful years of being a deputy I’m now seeking an island-wide mandate as a senator because I believe I can make a difference in the next six years, and that’s a difference for people who will face challenges in the years ahead, and I will do so with common sense.

I believe the States can be more careful and accountable with our money without threatening essential funding and services.

I don’t support increasing the population as an easy short-term solution for economic growth, with obvious long-term environmental inflationary consequences.

I’ve been chairman of the Consumer Council since 1995. I am a candidate who knows and is kept aware about prices and levels of service, I’ve not lost touch and I don’t intend to, and I realise how expensive island life can be.

I think imposing GST on basic essentials like food and fuel is morally bankrupt.

Also we still need more comprehensive consumer protection laws in areas like financial services and advertising.

I do have some experiences and involvement; I am currently chairman of the Health and Social Service and Housing Scrutiny Panel as well as chairman of the Consumer Council, a member of the Public Accounts Committee and vice-chairman of the Economic Affairs Scrutiny Panel. I am also Jersey’s elected member on the British Irish Parliamentary Assembly.

I will continue to listen to you and make your voice heard, I think Jersey’s government should represent you not manage you.

As I’ve said I’m concerned about economic growth, and what is the real price that we might have to pay if we take all of this into consideration in the Island Plan Review in 2009. This really worries me, I don’t agree with over-development of the island for economic growth, and financial gain associated with greed. I think it’s a long-term disaster and it’s not sustainable.

I believe the public should have right of access to more information, especially the affairs and business of the Council of Ministers, too much goes on behind closed doors, there’s too much secrecy and I don’t believe it’s healthy.

I still think we need to test the Ministerial Government, I don’t think it’s a done deal yet.

I do believe we should have an elderly care system through the social security system, where everyone contributes but it provides defined care and benefits to those who need it, based on medical needs, but it protects the family home and I know that’s of concern to many.

Guernsey does have a scheme, and that pays £341 per week towards residential care, £637 per week towards nursing care, and the recipients make a contribution of £154, and I think we can achieve that here and more.

I’m also concerned about the cost of housing, and we should make this more affordable, and there’s ways of doing that and there’s ways of increasing security of tenure, and doing things about rental deposits.

And I did say no to GST.