Extraordinary meeting request dismissed by Bailiff

Tuesday 29 June 2021

Calls for an extraordinary meeting of the States to decide the future of Deputy Chris Le Tissier have been dismissed, meaning a decision may have to wait until after he has voted on the future of Guernsey's education system.

After being unmasked as 'the Pirate' on Twitter, a Code of Conduct Panel recommended his expulsion from the States for breaking six sections of the guidelines governing States members' behaviour.

A second panel was convened following an appeal by Deputy Le Tissier, determining that his derogatory remarks and deceit warranted a one-year suspension from the States, but not outright expulsion.

Deputy Tina Bury submitted formal questions on Friday expressing concerns about the sequencing of the upcoming States debate. The current schedule for the meeting starting on 14 July has the future of Guernsey's education system listed as the first policy letter to be debated. 

Pictured: The rules defining what suspension from the States would look like, if the Assembly concurs with the recommendations of the Code of Conduct Panel. 

Deputy Bury's request for a separate meeting of the States in advance of that debate was refused by the States' Presiding Officer - the Bailiff Richard McMahon. 

"With the next meeting so soon it was not deemed necessary," a response on behalf of the Bailiff stated. Rules also dictate the order of business at a particular meeting, it was added, and this is not to be varied by the Presiding Officer. 

States members will however be free to propose changing the order of business when the meeting commences on Wednesday 14 June.

If securing a majority vote in the House, any such motion could see the Code of Conduct Report debated earlier in the meeting, ahead of the milestone debate on the  move to a new comprehensive school system. 

Pictured: It will be up to the States of Deliberation to decide Deputy Le Tissier's fate. 

The Bailiff's Office confirmed that, like any policy letter, States members will be able to propose amendments to the report.

For example, this could be to recommend a lighter caution or a more severe action, such as the full expulsion recommended by the original Code of Conduct investigation panel.

Deputy Le Tissier has not taken part in committee business since the beginning of March, but has retained full voting privileges in the States Assembly during a drawn-out process that has exposed holes in the disciplinary body's appeals process.