Politician would have quit over 'ferry mess'

The Guernsey politician who led the deal for the island's ferry links says Jersey has not been given what it was promised by his counterpart.

Deputy Neil Inder, who was president of Economic Development when the contract was agreed, said he would not apologise for saying he "genuinely had no idea" how Kirsten Morel had not resigned or faced a no confidence motion over the "ferry mess up".

After a joint tender process between both islands broke down, Guernsey appointed Brittany Ferries while Jersey chose DFDS.

Inder said if he had been in Morel's shoes, he would have "done the right thing and stepped down". The BBC has approached Morel and Jersey's Department for the Economy for comment.

Inder said his previous committee "did a great thing" for Guernsey and Brittany Ferries was working well for the island.

Numbers from Economic Development in April last year showed a 47% increase in visitors from France, compared to 2024.

In Jersey, the government has come under repeated scrutiny over their handling of the tender process, including businesses calling for the contract with DFDS to be "retendered".

The contract has also been reviewed by backbench deputies following public concerns about the Danish firm's pricing structure, cost of freight and general level of service.

But Economic Development Minister Morel, who was in charge of the tendering process, has backed DFDS.

Inder said Jersey had done a good line of "blaming Guernsey for everything".

"It's utter nonsense - I knew from day one the way this was going," Inder, who is now Guernsey's development and planning authority president, said.

"I tried to ensure we would have effectively a balanced approach to the tendering process.

"Looking back, at no point throughout that process do I believe Jersey was ever going to appoint Brittany Ferries or the Condor brand."

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