Comment: Exoneration or a declaration of war?

Thursday 04 May 2017

Asking a QC to pass judgement on the actions of the key politicians involved in the great Innovation Fund affair was supposed to draw the sting.

In the aftermath of the publication of the damning report into the Fund earlier this year, Senator Philip Ozouf – the Assistant Minister responsible for Innovation – resigned, and his boss, the Chief Minister, ordered no fewer than three reviews, one focussing on the acts of the three former amigos – Senators Ozouf, Maclean and Farnham.

That report was published on Tuesday – at 17:23 in the evening, with States Members and the media receiving it totally out of blue.

The report gave a very detailed account of who was responsible for the fund (hint – no one really knew), and the intense confusion over reporting lines.

All of which is a complete sideshow to the political drama at the centre of the story: will Senator Ozouf be restored to the ministerial benches?

Clearly, the Chief Minister is heading in that direction – his statement on the report, given before his audience had had the chance to properly read it, specifically focussed on the fact that Senator Ozouf wasn’t legally responsible for the Fund until April 2016, right at the end of the critical period.

Instead, it described his “disappointment” with Senators Maclean and Farnham, who are to receive a letter from him, ticking them off. 

But while designed as an exoneration of Senator Ozouf, and an attempt to restore order, some States Members believe the Chief Minister's statement (not the QC's report itself) has had the reverse effect, sparking deep unrest in the political classes, with talk of confidence votes and a "power grab" by the boss (because if it's actually the system that's at fault - not the people in it - then the system must be changed, 'streamlining' control from the Chief Minister's Department). 

Yes, if you can believe it, after decades of discussing our system of government, it's just possible we don't have it quite right. Who would have thought it?

Few politicians were willing to comment publicly, with the exception of Deputy Kristina Moore, who voiced her strong support for Senator Ozouf:

“I think it’s pleasing to see that Senator Ozouf is complimented [in the report] for his work in bringing the situation under control once he had an ability to do so,” she told Express.

“He’s somebody that works extremely hard on behalf of the Island… and one of the important things that he brings to the table is his ability to challenge very effectively, which is very relevant in terms of the report and its findings.

“He serves the Island extremely well with great passion and I know no other States member who puts as much energy and enthusiasm into his work. That’s not putting down any other member, because every member works hard and is committed to their work, but he really does excel in that department.”

Health Minister Senator Andrew Green MBE also supported the Chief Minister's actions: "I have discussed this issue with the Chief Minister and fully agree with the statement he gave to the Assembly. Now we need to work on implementing the report's recommendations and on making changes to our system of government to ensure that it functions efficiently for the benefit of islanders."

Others were privately deeply unhappy with the Chief Minister's treatment of Senator Maclean in particular, and with the possibility of Senator Ozouf returning as a minister - with dark mutterings of resignations, if he was to be brought back into the fold. 

They believed Senator Gorst had overstepped the mark by translating a balanced report into an exoneration of Senator Ozouf, and a castigation of Senators Farnham and Maclean. 

Their view is that while the report says that Senator Ozouf wasn’t legally responsible for the Fund until April 2016, it was intended that he be responsible after the elections in 2014, he thought he was responsible, he acted as if he was responsible, he was told he was responsible and he was treated by other Ministers as if he was responsible. If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck…

Rather than unite, the Chief Minister's reaction to the QC's report seems to have split the Island’s ministers – and that disatifaction has spread to other politicians, with Deputy Mike Higgins calling last night for an “in committee” debate on it – essentially a chance for everyone to have their say without following the strict States debating rules.

So not so much a drawing of the sting… more a drawing of the battle lines for the (very) long haul to the elections next year.

And only two more reports to go.