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Deputy Chris Le Tissier is consulting his Advocate as he explores ways to challenge the Code of Conduct Panel's recommendation that he should be expelled from the States, which he describes as a "disproportionate and draconian penalty".
Having investigated seven complaints and a self-referral, the States' Members Code of Conduct Panel has taken the unprecedented ruling that Deputy Le Tissier is not fit to be a States Deputy having breached six sections of the disciplinary code.
Using the Twitter handle @Radiosutch299, the first-time deputy caused offence with his anonymous tweets about "non-locals" and by repeatedly commenting on States business - since his election - under the guise of a concerned member of the public "listening while working from home".
Complainants say his behaviour was "inexcusable", "xenophobic" and "brought the whole Assembly into disrepute".
Pictured: The motion to expel Deputy Le Tissier from the States of Guernsey will go before the States Assembly for approval.
Twitter was a "bear pit", he said, and he claimed that people on Twitter use the sort of language that they use when talking to "the lads".
Following the Code of Conduct Panel's judgment, which will be referred to the States Assembly for a decision, Deputy Le Tissier said he was considering legal action.
“I am surprised, shocked and disappointed at the severity of the Panel’s decision. I am currently consulting with my Advocate as to what the options are for a challenge.
"I have also asked for all relevant records under a Subject Access Request to enable me to understand why the Panel has handed down such a disproportionate and draconian penalty."
In its decision notice, the panel, headed up by the Very Rev. John Guille and constituted by Advocate Russell Clark and Sandra James, said Deputy Le Tissier's behaviour was "wholly unacceptable" from an elected politician.
"We give Deputy Le Tissier credit for referring himself to the Panel, for his apology, and for admitting that his actions on social media were foolish and naïf. However, he appeared not to realise that he had breached the Code until others made the point. His actions could not be treated as a one-off aberration as they continued over several months and stopped only when complaints were made.
"The standards that the public expect Members to meet are high. The demands of the Code of Conduct are clear. However the public might choose to express themselves it should not take social media training for a Member to appreciate that some of the language used by Deputy Le Tissier was wholly unacceptable from a sitting Member."
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