Calls for ‘trolling’ deputy to step down from States

Deputy Le Tissier’s appeal to the code of conduct panel has resulted in a reduced penalty being recommended to the States.

Instead of expulsion, he is now facing a recommendation that he should be expelled for one year only, without pay.

Dr Gilly Carr, the Channel Island holocaust historian, was one of the targets of Deputy Le Tissier’s tweets, and was told that she was ‘not local’ and should ‘leave Guernsey alone’.

She was one of seven people who lodged official complaints with the code of conduct panel.

Dr Carr said that Deputy Le Tissier should be relieved of his post.

‘I think the fact that Le Tissier didn’t accept the ruling of the code of conduct panel, coupled with his reported lack of contrition, really betrays a total lack of personal accountability for his actions.

‘He took an oath when he became a deputy and knowingly broke it.

‘I personally have not received an apology from Le Tissier and think that he should not be allowed back as a deputy after a year until he has apologised to each of those he offended.’

Earlier this week Deputy Le Tissier said he was not mindful to resign and was consulting with fellow deputies.

His supporters on The Guernsey Party have said that he is a good guy, and that no one was without flaws.

Deputy Le Tissier polled 6,615 votes at the October election, and supporters have said it would be undemocratic to remove him.

Sarah Griffith was another of the seven complainants and she was disappointed that the appeal panel had lessened the recommended penalty.

‘There’s a part in the latest report that I find particularly disturbing where it states that he showed “limited contrition” and was blaming everyone else, including the complainants.

‘He doesn’t think he did anything wrong. How on earth is that acceptable behaviour?

‘He should resign, he must have the hide of a rhino.

‘If he stays, States members may as well remove the word integrity from the dictionary.’

Ms Griffith has emailed all deputies to encourage them to read both reports before the vote on it next month.

Another complainant, Jenny Tasker, was also disappointed to learn that Deputy Le Tissier had sought to blame others.

‘It was clear that he had no contrition whatsoever about his behaviour, and therefore very little understanding of the role.

‘It brings the States into disrepute, there’s no question of that, and I hope that all the other deputies realise how they have been let down by this individual and his behaviour and that they decide in a proper manner how to deal with him.

‘I believe that any sensible person would have resigned as soon as they realised what they had done.’

Grace Ruddy, who also lodged a complaint, agreed that anyone who had badly let others down should consider their position.

‘Two panels have found his behaviour to be below that expected, and he’s tried to make it a political issue, but it’s not.

‘Anyone with an ounce of decency and self-respect would resign.’