"Deputy St Pier should resign"

Thursday 24 October 2024

Some deputies have called for Gavin St Pier to resign from the States after his formal reprimand by the Bailiff.

Deputies Mark Helyar and Chris Le Tissier spoke in succession during yesterday's debate, with both urging their political colleague to stand down from his elected role.

Deputy St Pier was given a formal reprimand by the Bailiff after he was found to have breached the States Members' Code of Conduct in naming Dr Sandie Bohin during a speech relating to the regulation and appraisal of medical professionals in April 2022.

He was critical of Dr Bohin in her role as head of safeguarding at the time. 

She, the MSG, and the Guernsey and Alderney branch of the British Medical Association all lodged complaints against Deputy St Pier's conduct. 

Pictured: (inset) Dr Sandie Bohin and Deputy Gavin St Pier.

While Deputy St Pier was cleared of abusing parliamentary privilege in naming Dr Bohin, he was found guilty of breaching the States Members Code of Conduct after three separate complaints were made by Dr Bohin, the MSG, and the Guernsey and Alderney branch of the British Medical Association.

Having exhausted all his avenues of appeal, Deputy St Pier faced a formal reprimand for his actions yesterday.

Before that happened, the matter was put to his political colleagues for approval.

They voted by a majority to back the Report by the Guernsey Appeals Commissioner, which had upheld the Code of Conduct breaches and recommended the formal reprimand.

32 deputies voted for the Report and therefore for the reprimand, three chose to 'Ne Vote Pas', meaning they did not vote for or against it. Deputy St Pier and Deputy Neil Inder did not vote at all, while three deputies were absent for the vote.

Pictured: States Members voting records can be found at gov.gg.

Both Deputy Helyar and Le Tissier backed the report and voted for the reprimand. Both went further and also called on Deputy St Pier to resign. 

In brief speeches they explained why - and both related to Deputy St Pier's opinion when Deputy Le Tissier himself had been found guilty of breaching the States Members' Code of Conduct, in 2021. 

Deputy Helyar spoke first to call on Deputy St Pier to apologise to Dr Bohin.

"...from some of the things that have been said, there doesn't appear to be any contrition and I think Dr Bohin deserves an apology.

"A lot of very well qualified and eminent people have looked at this and said, 'this was not right', and I'm sure that the things that go behind this were well meaning, but it has caused damage, and that is not acceptable. I think there should be an apology."

Deputy Helyar went on to read an excerpt from Hansard of the States Meeting on 14 July, 2021, which was when deputies discussed whether Deputy Le Tissier should be suspended after he had been caught out posting abusive anonymous messages to and about members of the public and other politicians, including Deputy St Pier.

He was suspended from the States for a year, but Deputy St Pier had encouraged him to resign.

To emphasise his view, Deputy Helyar read out what Deputy St Pier had said before adding: "...in my view, Deputy St Pier should follow that good advice."

Deputy Le Tissier echoed what Deputy Helyar had said too.

"I was going to repeat to Deputy St Pier what he said to me, that I should resign. Well I think Deputy St Pier should resign forthwith."

Deputy St Pier has not yet commented publicly on the formal reprimand received yesterday. He has told Express he will do so later today.

READ MORE...

Deputy Le Tissier suspended from States

Majority of deputies back formal reprimand for St Pier

St Pier conduct appeal could be considered by a public standards commissioner 

Three Code of Conduct complaints lodged against Deputy St Pier

St Pier remains quietly confident over code complaints

Calls to curb 'parliamentary privilege'

St Pier cleared of abuse of privilege