In November 2011, after his successful election as a Senator, Gorst was appointed Chief Minister by the Assembly.

He served two terms as Chief Minister until he was beaten in a vote against John Le Fondré after the 2018 general election.

Born in Lancaster, England, Gorst worked as an accountant before going into politics after moving to Jersey.

Gorst was born into a farming family in the Lune Valley, Lancashire, England, and left school with A-levels in history and business studies (grade E) and went on to work in insurance before going into banking and accountancy.

He met his wife Dionne (née A'Court), a Jerseywoman, while she was studying nursing in England, and the couple moved back to Jersey.