Philip Ozouf

Philip Ozouf is a Jersey politician who is currently serving as the Minister for External Relations and Financial Services and a Deputy for the Parish of St Saviour. He was a member of the States of Jersey from 1999 until 2018, serving as Economic Development Minister, Treasury and Resources Minister,[2] and Assistant Chief Minister in the Council of Ministers.

Philip Francis Cyril Ozouf
Ozouf in 2012 (facing camera)
Senator
In office
November 2014 – June 2018
ConstituencyJersey
Majority10,062[1]
Minister for Treasury and Resources
In office
November 2008 – November 2014
Preceded bySenator Terry Le Sueur
Succeeded bySenator Alan Maclean
ConstituencyJersey
Minister for Economic Development
In office
2005–2008
Succeeded bySenator Alan Maclean
Senator
In office
November 2008 – 2014
ConstituencyJersey
Majority8,712 (7.55%)
Deputy
In office
December 1999 – November 2002
ConstituencySaint Helier district 3 and 4
Majority1,618 (24%)
Personal details
BornJersey
Residence(s)St Saviour, Jersey
Websitewww.ozouf.je

Early life and education

Philip Francis Cyril Ozouf was born in Jersey.[3] He is the son of farmer and former Connétable of Saint Saviour Philip Francis Ozouf.[4]

He was educated at Victoria College, Jersey, then attended the European Business School in London, Frankfurt and Paris; he gained a BA (Hons) International Business and French Equivalent. He also qualified to diploma stage of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants. He describes himself as a "reasonably fluent" French, German and Spanish speaker.[5]

Electoral history

He was elected to the States of Jersey as a Deputy for Saint Helier District 3&4, in November 1999, topping the poll with 1,618 votes,[6] a record number of votes in this district.

He was then elected a Senator in 2002, topping the poll with 14,442 votes.[7] He was re-elected in 2008 in 5th position with 8,712 votes. He was re-elected a senator in 2014 with 10,062 votes.

He did not stand for re-election in the 2018 elections.[8]

Responsibilities

Senator Ozouf serves as Vice Chairman of the Alliance Française Jersey branch.[9]

Previous posts

Assistant Chief Minister

From the October 2014 election Senator Ozouf acted as Assistant Chief Minister with responsibility for Financial Services, Digital, Competition and Innovation matters, assuming full responsibility for Jersey's Innovation Fund at the beginning of 2016. On 20 January 2017 the Chief Minister confirmed that he had received and accepted Senator Ozouf's formal resignation from the post following publication of a report from the Auditor General criticising the way in which the Jersey Innovation Fund had lost a substantial part of the public funds entrusted to it.[10][11]

Privileges and Procedures Committee

Ozouf served on the Privileges and Procedures Committee.[12]

Treasury

Between December 2008 and October 2014, Ozouf had been Treasury Minister in the Council of Ministers.[13] He was proposed for the post by the Chief Minister, Terry Le Sueur, and received 38 votes, beating Deputy Geoff Southern who received 13 votes.[14]

Economic development

From 2005 to 2008, Ozouf was Economic Development Minister in the Council of Ministers.[15] This role had a wide remit, taking responsibility for subjects as varied as transport links, the Competition Law, the Rural Strategy. He was primarily tasked with achieving 2% real economic growth annually.[16] This was something which has been recognised, even by his critics, as no small task.[17] Ozouf was a strong supporter of the Goods and Sales Tax (GST), introduced on 6 May 2008 and initially levied at 3%.

Other roles

Ozouf was vice chairman of the States of Jersey Employment Board.[18]

He is a former member of the Jersey Legal Information Board, a statutory body with the remit to improve access to information about the Jersey law.[19]

He also served as a board member of the Jersey Communities Relations Trust, a States sponsored body that works to ensure that minority groups in Jersey are not disadvantaged.[20]

He was also a member of the Jersey branch of the Assemblée Parlementaire de la Francophonie[21]

Political campaigns

Ozouf, who is gay,[22] supported the campaign for the introduction of a Civil Partnership law in Jersey, which the States of Jersey passed in July 2011.[23][24]

Ozouf was responsible for 'cleaning up' the Jersey fulfillment industry by preventing companies who sought to exploit the UK VAT threshold by establishing a Jersey mailbox.[15] The move drew criticism from Deputy Geoff Southern, as Chair of the Economic Affairs scrutiny panel, however the move was welcomed by Jersey businesses.

Criticisms

In 2006, Ozouf was the first Minister in Jersey's history to be reprimanded for breaching procedure after he gave extra funding of £95,000 to Jersey's Battle of Flowers Association against the advice of his own officers[25]

In 2012, Ozouf was the subject of criticism over the States of Jersey's failed plan to purchase Lime Grove House, an office building, for the intended use as a new police headquarters for the States of Jersey Police.[26] Senator Sarah Ferguson lodged a vote of censure against Ozouf, which was later withdrawn.[27] According to Ozouf the Lime Grove House building would have been unsuitable, and as an alternative, part of the adjacent Green Street public car park could be used as a site for a new police headquarters.[28] In mid-2013 plans to build a new police building on part of Green Street car park were approved, and its completion is due in early 2017.[29]

Campaigns

Gambling in Jersey

Ozouf has called for Jersey to reform its gambling laws.[30]

Financial Ombudsman

Ozouf has called for the installation of a Financial Ombudsman in Jersey.[31]

Ensuring competition of ferry routes

Ozouf has been a primary driver for the move towards competition on ferry routes into and out of Jersey and continues to seek the most competitive prices for Jersey people.[32][33]

International representation

Ozouf attended the sixth meeting of the British-Irish Council on environment.[34]

References
  1. "Jersey election 2014: Results and candidates". BBC. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
  2. "Who we are and what we do". Gov.je. 27 July 2012. Archived from the original on 1 January 2017. Retrieved 13 October 2012.
  3. Ozouf, Philip. "About". website. Archived from the original on 4 June 2014. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
  4. "Constable Philip Ozouf in hospital". BBC News. 2 February 2003. Retrieved 26 July 2007.
  5. "PHILIP OZOUF: MANIFESTO 2014" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 April 2015. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
  6. "Jersey Politics Page: Election results archive". Archived from the original on 4 August 2007. Retrieved 26 July 2007.
  7. "Senator – Philip Francis Cyril Ozouf". Retrieved 26 July 2007.
  8. Heath, Richard. "End of an era as Senator Ozouf decides not to stand". jerseyeveningpost.com. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
  9. "Alliance Française Committee Members". Retrieved 31 August 2011.
  10. "Senator Philip Ozouf has officially resigned as Minister". www.itv.com. ITV. 20 January 2017.
  11. "CONFIRMED: Chief Minister accepts Senator Philip Ozouf's offer to 'step aside'". Jersey Evening Post. 20 January 2017.
  12. "Privileges and Procedures Committee". www.statesassembly.gov.je. States of Jersey.
  13. States of Jersey. "Senator – Philip Francis Cyril Ozouf". Retrieved 31 August 2011.
  14. "Question Time". BBC Jersey. 12 November 2008. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
  15. "Cut-price loophole closed on CDs". BBC News. 28 February 2006. Retrieved 26 July 2007.
  16. "Council of Ministers". Retrieved 26 July 2007.
  17. "We Want Our Island Back Newsletter" (PDF). January 2006. Retrieved 26 July 2007.
  18. "Employment of States of Jersey Employees (Jersey) Law 2005". Retrieved 31 August 2011.
  19. "Jersey Legal Information Board". Retrieved 26 July 2007.
  20. "Jersey Community Relations Trust: appointment of Chairman and a Trustee". 11 May 2004. Retrieved 26 July 2007.
  21. "L'Assemblée Parlementaire de la Francophonie". Retrieved 26 July 2007.
  22. "Jersey minister hopes abuse will end with discrimination law". BBC News. BBC. 14 May 2013. Retrieved 3 April 2015. Jersey minister hopes abuse will end with discrimination law],
  23. "Support for island partnerships: Progress Jersey campaign for civil partnerships to be legally recognised is being supported by a Jersey senator". BBC News. BBC. 7 May 2006. Retrieved 2 July 2007. Senator Philip Ozouf says he agrees with a petition being organised by Progress Jersey.
  24. "Jersey States approves civil partnerships". BBC News Jersey. 12 July 2011. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
  25. "Minister receives reprimand". jerseyeveningpost.com. 22 November 2006. Retrieved 28 December 2006.
  26. "BBC News – Jersey's Treasury Minister will face a vote of censure". Bbc.co.uk. 12 June 2012. Retrieved 13 October 2012.
  27. "BBC News – Philip Ozouf reprimand over police station deal withdrawn". Bbc.co.uk. 9 July 2012. Retrieved 13 October 2012.
  28. "Senator Ozouf answers his critics « This Is Jersey". Thisisjersey.com. Retrieved 13 October 2012.
  29. "BBC News – Jersey Green Street police headquarters plans approved". Bbc.co.uk. 2 July 2013. Retrieved 29 October 2013.
  30. "Island urged to step up gambling". Casino City Times. 27 June 2007. Retrieved 26 July 2007.
  31. "BIOA – providing a platform for development and improvement" (PDF). The Ombudsman. December 2006. Retrieved 26 July 2007.
  32. "Agreement draft for Channel Islands ferry route". 8 March 2006. Retrieved 26 July 2007.
  33. "Shipping and Port Services Enquiry: Issues Paper" (PDF). 4 October 2006. Retrieved 26 July 2007.
  34. "Sixth Meeting of the British-Irish Council (Environment Sectoral Group)". 7 April 2005. Retrieved 26 July 2007.

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