Pan-island political misconduct watchdog 'to be in place by 2023'

Tuesday 10 May 2022

Jersey and Guernsey could have a joint political behaviour watchdog by March next year.

Complaints against Jersey States Members are currently investigated by Commissioner for Standards Paul Kernaghan MBE, a former Hampshire Chief Constable.

In Guernsey, meanwhile, behaviour concerns are reviewed by a Code of Conduct Panel. 

The island was already looking to do away with the panel, with deputies having approved the idea of a Commissioner for Standards in August 2020, but that drive was accelerated in the wake of the panel’s decision to recommend the sacking of Deputy Chris Le Tissier for writing offensive tweets under a pseudonym. 

On Friday, the Committee responsible for overseeing the running of the island's States Assembly published plans marking the first steps to making that a reality by 1 March 2023.

Guernsey's States Assembly and Constitution Committee said they had discussed the idea with Jersey's equivalent body, the Privileges and Procedures Committee.

According to proposals laid out in a Policy Letter, the intention is for the two islands to recruit a Commissioner as a joint exercise in the autumn.

Once appointed, the Commissioner will serve a five-year term.

Pictured: Paul Kernaghan MBE, Jersey's current Commissioner for Standards.

Jersey's first Commissioner for Standards was appointed in 2018, and has gone on to look into more than 40 complaints during his tenure, with 15 leading to formal investigations and reports. 

Guernsey politicians are due to debate whether to go ahead with the joint plan in June.