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The Chief Minster's mishandling of the announcement of Suzanne's Wiley's resignation was a "genuine mistake" caused by the "crisis" sparked by the Government CEO's shock departure, an official conduct report has concluded.
Both Deputy Kristina Moore and Deputy Kirsten Morel have been cleared by the Commissioner for Standards, Dr Melissa McCullough, following suggestions that they deliberately mislead the States Assembly and the public as to their knowledge of Mrs Wylie's departure.
Suzanne Wiley, after just over a year in post, handed her resignation letter to the Deputy Moore and Assistant Chief Minister Andy Jehan on 14 March. The same day, the Deputy Morel was informed of Ms Wylie's decision.
On 21 March, Deputy Morel stood in for Deputy Moore for the Question Without Notice session in the States sitting. During this time, Deputy Morel was asked a question about the resignation of the resignation of the Chief Officer of Health and the Chief Nurse.
In a supplementary question, he was asked if he was aware of any other resignation, replying that he was not.
This denial was made in the form of a joke, where he said: "Apart from my own, depending on the performance of this particular question time, I am not aware of any."
Video: The question-and-answer exchange involving Deputy Morel was a focus of the Commissioner for Standards' investigation.
The following day, 22 March, the public announcement of Ms Wylie’s resignation was made. This led some members of the States to accuse Deputy Morel of misleading the Assembly.
On 24 March, Deputy Moore gave an interview to the Jersey Evening Post where she falsely stated that she received confirmation of Ms Wylie’s resignation on 22 March 2023.
Following this, Connétable Karen Shenton-Stone, who is Chair of the Privileges and Procedures Committee, which oversees the running of the States Assembly and States Members' conduct, referred the matter to the Commissioner for Standards.
The Commissioner was asked to determine whether "there was a deliberate obfuscation or avoidance by the Chief Minister and/or Deputy Chief Minister" and if "there was an intention to mislead or misinform the Assembly."
Pictured: Government CEO Suzanne Wiley resigned on 14 March after just over a year in post.
If true, this would be a breach of Rule 1 of the Code of Conduct for Ministers and Assistant Ministers.
Published this morning, the Commissioner's review cleared the Chief Minister of any wrongdoing in providing incorrect dates.
"I've received no evidence to suggest that there was a deliberate reason for Deputy Moore's confusion on the date; that is, I have been provided with no other reason not can I ascertain any advantage to Deputy Moore providing an incorrect date," Dr McCullough concluded.
She added: "It is reasonable to conclude that Deputy Moore's perceived lack of openness in relation to stating these dates, was not due to any ulterior motive or to hide any misconduct of her own in relation to Ms Wylie's notice of resignation but rather a genuine mistake."
The mistake, according to the Commissioners report, was chiefly caused by the shock nature of the resignation, given Ms Wylie had been in post for such a short space of time. The commissioner wrote: "This sense of surprise and concern by Deputy Moore in addition to the fast-paced environment of Government, in my view, led to less than clear thinking."
She added: "Essentially, the notice of resignation from the CEO sparked a crisis."
Pictured: Suzanne Wiley's resignation letter.
In her report, the Commissioner accepted Deputy Morel's explanation of events that he believed he was answering a question specifically relating to Health Resignations, as opposed to resignations as a whole.
The report notes that Deputy Morel sought clarification from the Bailiff, Sir Timothy Le Cocq, who said: "I think that it was objectively reasonable for you to focus your attention solely on the Health Department as it was to that department that the initial question was addressed."
The joke Deputy Morel made about his own resignation led some to believe that Deputy Morel had interpreted the question more widely, only claiming subsequently that he believed it to be health specific.
However, the commissioner stated: "I am satisfied on my analysis of the facts and evidence that, on the balance of probabilities, Deputy Morel believed at the time of answering... [that he] was answering a supplementary question in relation to further health resignations rather than further resignations in general."
TIMELINE: Who knew what about CEO’s departure and when?
WATCH: Chief Minister apologises for "unclear" comments over CEO exit
Gov in crisis as CEO Suzanne Wylie resigns
Read Gov CEO's blog from 48 hours before shock departure announcement
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