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The States' Members Code of Conduct Panel has ruled that disgraced Deputy Chris Le Tissier should be expelled from the States for offensive comments he made on social media using a pseudonym.
Having investigated seven complaints, the panel has taken the unprecedented decision to recommend that Deputy Le Tissier is not fit to be a States Deputy having breached multiple sections of the Code of Conduct.
Using the Twitter handle @Radiosutch299, the first-time deputy told prominent historian Dr Gilly Carr to "leave Guernsey alone" because she is "non local", while also criticising Deputy Gavin St Pier with the same retort.
Deputy Le Tissier has also been caught repeatedly commenting on States business - since his election - under the guise of a concerned member of the public "listening while working from home".
An investigation by Express into the Deputy's social media behaviour unearthed links between a YouTube account 'Radio Sutch' - which was visibly Deputy Le Tissier - and the Twitter account, which most recently went under the username 'The Pirate', before it was deleted.
Pictured: The motion to expel Deputy Le Tissier from the States of Guernsey will go before the States Assembly for approval, unless he chooses to resign himself.
"The panel ruled that the breaches were so severe that he should not be allowed to continue as one of Guernsey's representatives.The Panel heard from each of the complainants and Deputy Le Tissier individually and considered in detail all their evidence, both written and oral.
"For the reasons set out in detail in its report, the Panel concluded that Deputy Le Tissier has breached each of sections 3, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 11 of the States’ Members Code of Conduct by his use of and what he wrote on a Twitter account using the pseudonym “The Pirate” and other names for the same account.
The Panel decided that this case falls under section 39 in that the severity and extent of the breaches is such that its recommendation is that the appropriate sanction is that Deputy Le Tissier should be expelled from Membership of the States.
"These findings have been sent to the States’ Assembly & Constitution Committee with a request that it submit the report to the Presiding Officer as soon as possible for inclusion in a Billet d’État with the recommendations of the Panel."
Pictured: An investigation by Express unearthed links between Deputy Le Tissier's covert social media activity and a YouTube page belonging to him, in which he was clearly identified.
Deputy Le Tissier admitted that the @Radiosutch299 account belonged to him following the publication of Express' stories on 3 and 4 March. He had originally declined to comment when the allegations were put to him, while his political party has attempted to distance itself from Deputy Le Tissier's social media posts.
In a written statement, in which he refused to be interviewed further, the disgraced deputy attributed several months of tweeting since his election as "an uncharacteristic lapse" in his behaviour.
A total of seven code of conduct complaints were made against Deputy Chris Le Tissier for trolling States' colleagues on Twitter and criticising 'non-locals' using a pseudonym.
The first-time Deputy, who is a member of the Home Affairs Committee and the Development & Planning Authority, was asked to recuse himself from board meetings while the investigation took place. However, Deputy Le Tissier resisted calls to abstain from voting in last week's States meeting. Express understands that he was advised to stand down from those committees by a political colleague at the beginning of that investigation.
Pictured: A now-deleted youtube video contains a surreal depiction of the USA bombing Guernsey to a distorted rendition of 'Sarnia Cherie' on Liberation Day 2015.
The sections which the Investigation Panel found that Deputy Le Tissier had breached are as follows:
Section 3 is in the following terms:
The primary duty of Members is to act in the public interest and to represent the interests of those who they have been elected to serve conscientiously. In so doing Members have a duty on all occasions to act in accordance with their oaths, and in accordance with the public trust placed in them.
Section 6 is in the following terms:
Members shall observe the following general principles of conduct for holders of public office –
Selflessness
Integrity
Objectivity
Accountability
Openness
Honesty
Members shall take decisions solely in terms of the public interest. They shall not do so in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their family or friends, their business associates or any voluntary or charitable organisation with which they are involved.
Members shall not place themselves under any financial or other obligation to outside individuals or organisations that might influence them in the performance of their official duties.
In carrying out public business, including making public appointments, awarding contracts, or recommending individuals for rewards and benefits, Members shall make choices on merit, and at no time improperly discriminate against or afford undue preferential treatment to any group or individual.
Members are accountable for their decisions and actions to the States and the public and must submit themselves to whatever scrutiny is appropriate to their office.
Members shall be as open as possible about all decisions and actions that they take and must not knowingly deceive or mislead. They shall give reasons for their decisions and restrict information only when the wider public interest, or statutory provision, clearly demand.
Members have a duty to declare any private interests relating to their public duties and to take steps to resolve any conflicts arising in a way that protects the public interest.
Leadership Members shall promote and support these principles by leadership and example.
Section 7 is in the following terms:
Members shall base their conduct on a consideration of the public interest, avoid conflict between personal interest and the public interest and resolve any conflict between the two, at once, and in favour of the public interest. After leaving their official positions, they will not take improper advantage of their previous office.
Section 8 is in the following terms:
Members shall at all times conduct themselves in a manner which will tend to maintain and strengthen the public’s trust and confidence in the integrity of the States of Deliberation and never undertake any action which would bring the States, or its Members generally, into disrepute.
Section 9 is in the following terms:
Members shall at all times treat other Members, civil servants and members of the public with respect and courtesy and without malice, notwithstanding the disagreements on issues and policy which are a normal part of the political process.
Section 11 is in the following terms:
Members shall act in good conscience and exercise the privileges and discharge the duties of public office diligently and with civility, dignity, care and honour.
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