Claims Alderney’s CEO was fired by a ‘kangaroo court’
The row over the firing of Alderney’s chief executive continues to rumble on, as it emerged that an outgoing member of Alderney States had made a code of conduct complaint against the States President for his part in the affair.
The island’s top civil servant, Theo Leijser, was asked to accept a compromise agreement in December, less than a year following his appointment, after politicians who were expected to confirm his permanence in the role agreed he should be dismissed.
It has now emerged that former States member Bruce Woodhead, who resigned on New Year’s Eve, submitted a code of conduct earlier this month describing the circumstances of Mr Leijser’s dismissal as a ‘kangaroo court’.
The complaint, which has been seen by the Guernsey Press, said that Mr Woodhead had been present at the meeting on 16 December when Mr Leijser’s future had been decided.
In it he claimed that president William Tate was ‘incensed’ by a press release approved by Mr Leijser which detailed the resignation of Policy & Finance chairman Nigel Vooght.
The press release included the resignation letter of Mr Vooght which criticised both the president and some States members and included comments from Mr Leijser where he praised the resigning chairman, saying that Mr Vooght’s ‘clarity of thought would be missed’.
‘These points were made with such venom and obvious dislike for Mr Leijser and continued for such a long time that there was no doubt that his outbreak was influencing all present,’ Mr Woodhead said in his complaint.
‘It was so strong that one member, Boyd Kelly, expressed the opinion that the president was over-emphasising the situation.
‘When asked if he had a good relationship with Mr Leijser prior to this weekend, he answered an emphatic no,’ he said.
The vote to terminate Mr Leijser’s contract saw six in favour and just two against.
‘Regardless of the outcome I believe that William Tate, the President, had no right to show such bias and personal dislike on a matter of such importance to the States of Alderney and to Mr Leijser.’
Despite the code of conduct complaint only being made on 5 February, Mr Woodhead received a reply just eight days later saying that it had been ruled that the complaint was unsubstantiated.
The response stated that as the president was absent from the island, vice-president Steve Roberts would review the complaint.
‘On the completion of a preliminary investigation,’ he said in a email seen by the Guernsey Press, ‘he has found that the complaint has not been substantiated and determined that no further action will be taken.’
Contacted by the Guernsey Press yesterday, Mr Tate said: ‘It is not my policy to comment on code of conduct complaints irrespective of who they are made against.’
Unlike Guernsey and Jersey, Alderney deals with its own code of conduct issues.
It had been suggested that the island should adopt the same pan-Channel Island Commissioner as Guernsey and Jersey, Dr Melissa McCullough, at a meeting of Alderney States just two days after Mr Leisjer was sacked.
However, the item was dropped from the debate as there were insufficient members present to vote on it, as Nigel Vooght, who had ironically proposed the change, had resigned and Alex Snowdon, who had himself been cautioned after a code of conduct complaint in July, was absent with illness.
Alderney States Treasurer Liz Maurice, acting chief executive after Mr Leisjer’s departure, said the proposals to use the Commissioner for Standards remained ‘ongoing’.
‘As you will be aware, three new members were elected and in place from January 2025 with a further two vacant seats due to be filled in the March by-election,’ she said.
‘It is considered important that all new members have the opportunity to fully review and understand the proposals in order that the matter can be fully considered by the States at the appropriate time.’
