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Suspended Deputy Christopher Le Tissier is sitting out of a States' meeting this week for what is likely to be the final time.
Deputy Le Tissier was suspended for 12 months on 14 July last year. His suspension is set to end during the next States' meeting in two weeks' time when he will be able to resume his seat in the Assembly if, as expected, the meeting runs into a second day.
Deputy Le Tissier, pictured top, who was first elected at the general election in October 2020, told Express yesterday that he was looking forward to returning for the remainder of the States' term until 2025 after serving only nine months before his suspension.
"I am due to return to the chamber on 14 July. I am pleased to be able to return to serving our community after my suspension," he said.
The first debates facing Deputy Le Tissier on his return to the Assembly include minimum wage rates, the reinstatement of a reciprocal health agreement with the UK and whether it should be made harder for States' committees to build on green fields.
Pictured: Deputy Christopher Le Tissier may be back in the States' Assembly ahead of debate on proposals from the Committee for Employment & Social Security to change minimum wage policy in a way which would leave 16 and 17 year olds on the minimum wage with £600 less next year than they would receive without the policy change.
Early last year, Deputy Le Tissier was caught anonymously posting offensive comments on social media. At the time, he was a member of The Guernsey Party, but he later resigned his membership.
A disciplinary panel recommended that he should be expelled from the States for breaking six sections of the Code of Conduct relating to honesty, transparency and upholding public confidence.
Deputy Le Tissier appealed and a second panel recommended reducing his sanction from outright expulsion to a one-year suspension.
Deputy Le Tissier's suspension was from all States' business. He was subsequently replaced as a member of three States' committees: the Committee for Home Affairs, the Development & Planning Authority and the Transport Licensing Authority. When he returns to the States on 14 July, he will start without membership of any committee.
Pictured: Deputy Christopher Le Tissier posted this contribution on social media only this morning.
Although he has not been remunerated since 14 July last year, Deputy Le Tissier told Express that he had used his enforced break to remain well briefed about local political issues.
"I have been carefully following proceedings during my absence," he said.
"I have been using my time to carry out further research into various topics that either appeared in my manifesto or that have arisen during the last 12 months."
During his suspension, Deputy Le Tissier has continued to contribute to political debate on social media - this time under his own name.
He has been highly critical of his former Leader in the Guernsey Party, Treasury Lead Deputy Mark Helyar, in particular over Deputy Helyar's leadership of proposals to introduce GST after the Guernsey Party campaigned strongly against tax rises at the 2020 general election.
In August last year, Deputy Le Tissier publicly called for Deputy Helyar to resign as Treasury Lead. He also attended a public protest against GST on 5 June this year.
Pictured: Deputy Christopher Le Tissier is returning to the States in time to influence the outcome of proposals for GST, which are being led by the Policy & Resources Committee's Treasury Lead, Deputy Mark Helyar.
In response to other questions from Express about the circumstances surrounding his suspension, Deputy Le Tissier said: "I have no comments on the events of 12 months ago that I did not say at the time."
During the States' debate on his proposed suspension, Deputy Le Tissier repeatedly apologised to his colleagues and the public. He said he had been stupid and naïve rather than malicious. He said he regretted that his conduct had been turned into a political issue by some of his critics and others.
Deputy Le Tissier suspended from States
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