Philip Ozouf

Philip Ozouf
Ozouf in 2012
Deputy of St Saviour
Incumbent
Assumed office
27 June 2022
Chief MinisterKristina Moore (2022-2024) Lyndon Farnham (2024-)
Minister for External Relations
In office
12 July 2022 – 30 January 2024
Preceded byIan Gorst
Succeeded byIan Gorst
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 2002 – June 2018
ConstituencyJersey
Deputy
In office
December 1999 – November 2002
ConstituencySaint Helier district 3 and 4
Majority1,618 (24%)
Websitewww.ozouf.je

Philip Ozouf is a former Jersey politician. He was an independent member of the States Assembly from 1999 to 2018 and from 2022 to 2026.

During his political career, he held several ministerial offices, including Treasury and Resources Minister, Economic Development Minister, Minister for External Relations and Financial Services, and Assistant Chief Minister.

Early life and education

Philip Francis Cyril Ozouf grew up in Jersey.[1] He is the son of farmer and former Connétable of Saint Saviour Philip Francis Ozouf.[2]

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.[3]

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,[4] a record number of votes in this district.

He was then elected a Senator in 2002, topping the poll with 14,442 votes.[5] 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.[6]

Ozouf stood for Deputy of St Saviour in the 2022 general election and won one of the five seats available with 1,000 votes.[7] He did not contest the 2026 election.

Ministerial positions

Economic development

From 2005 to 2008, Ozouf was Economic Development Minister in the Council of Ministers.[8] 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.[9] This was something which has been recognised, even by his critics, as no small task.[10] Ozouf was a strong supporter of the Goods and Sales Tax (GST), introduced on 6 May 2008 and initially levied at 3%.

In 2006, Ozouf was reprimanded for breaching procedure after he gave extra funding of £95,000 to Jersey's Battle of Flowers Association against the advice of his officers.[11]

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.[8] The move drew criticism from Deputy Geoff Southern, as Chair of the Economic Affairs scrutiny panel, however the move was welcomed by Jersey businesses.

Treasury

Between December 2008 and October 2014, Ozouf was Treasury Minister.[12] 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.[13]

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.[14] Senator Sarah Ferguson lodged a vote of censure against Ozouf, which was later withdrawn.[15] 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.[16] In mid-2013 plans to build a new police building on part of Green Street car park were approved.[17]

Ozouf, who is openly gay,[18] supported the campaign for the introduction of a Civil Partnership law in Jersey, which the States Assembly passed in July 2011.[19][20]

Assistant Chief Minister

From the October 2014 election 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 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.[21][22]

Minister for External Relations

Ozouf served as Minister for External Relations in the Government led by Deputy Kristina Moore from 12 July 2022 until 30 January 2024 when Deputy Moore's administration left office following the vote of no confidence in her leadership.[23]

Criminal proceedings

During 2025, Ozouf was convicted in two separate criminal proceedings. In February, he pleaded guilty to speeding and driving without a valid insurance disc, for which he was fined £575 and had his licence endorsed.[24] In October, he pleaded guilty to assisting unlawful immigration after arranging for foreign nationals to work at a laundry he owned. He was sentenced to 120 hours of community service.[25] Following the conviction, the States Assembly voted to suspend him,[26] and there were calls for his resignation.[26][27] He did not stand in the 2026 general election.

References

  1. ↑ Ozouf, Philip. "About". website. Archived from the original on 4 June 2014. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
  2. ↑ "Constable Philip Ozouf in hospital". BBC News. 2 February 2003. Retrieved 26 July 2007.
  3. ↑ "PHILIP OZOUF: MANIFESTO 2014" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 April 2015. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
  4. ↑ "Jersey Politics Page: Election results archive". Archived from the original on 4 August 2007. Retrieved 26 July 2007.
  5. ↑ "Senator – Philip Francis Cyril Ozouf". Retrieved 26 July 2007.
  6. ↑ Heath, Richard (14 March 2018). "End of an era as Senator Ozouf decides not to stand". jerseyeveningpost.com. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
  7. ↑ "Jersey Election 2022: Full Results". BBC News. 23 June 2022. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  8. 1 2 "Cut-price loophole closed on CDs". BBC News. 28 February 2006. Retrieved 26 July 2007.
  9. ↑ "Council of Ministers". {{cite web}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  10. ↑ "We Want Our Island Back Newsletter" (PDF). January 2006. Retrieved 26 July 2007.
  11. ↑ "Minister receives reprimand". jerseyeveningpost.com. 22 November 2006. Retrieved 28 December 2006.
  12. ↑ States of Jersey. "Senator – Philip Francis Cyril Ozouf". Retrieved 31 August 2011.
  13. ↑ "Question Time". BBC Jersey. 12 November 2008. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
  14. ↑ "BBC News – Jersey's Treasury Minister will face a vote of censure". Bbc.co.uk. 12 June 2012. Retrieved 13 October 2012.
  15. ↑ "BBC News – Philip Ozouf reprimand over police station deal withdrawn". Bbc.co.uk. 9 July 2012. Retrieved 13 October 2012.
  16. ↑ "Senator Ozouf answers his critics « This Is Jersey". Thisisjersey.com. {{cite web}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  17. ↑ "BBC News – Jersey Green Street police headquarters plans approved". Bbc.co.uk. 2 July 2013. Retrieved 29 October 2013.
  18. ↑ "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],
  19. ↑ "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.
  20. ↑ "Jersey States approves civil partnerships". BBC News Jersey. 12 July 2011. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
  21. ↑ "Senator Philip Ozouf has officially resigned as Minister". www.itv.com. ITV. 20 January 2017.
  22. ↑ "CONFIRMED: Chief Minister accepts Senator Philip Ozouf's offer to 'step aside'". Jersey Evening Post. 20 January 2017.
  23. ↑ "First female chief minister of Jersey voted out of role". BBC News. 16 January 2024. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  24. ↑ "Jersey deputy fined for speeding and not showing insurance disc". BBC News. 11 February 2025. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
  25. ↑ Morris, Michael (5 February 2026). "Philip Ozouf avoids jail over immigration offences". Jersey Evening Post. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
  26. 1 2 Daubeney, Gemma (3 October 2025). "Jersey politician guilty of breaking immigration law". BBC News. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
  27. ↑ "Calls for Deputy Ozouf to resign over immigration offences". BBC News. 7 October 2025. Retrieved 6 January 2026.

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