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A Guernsey politician, who trolled a Holocaust historian on Twitter as well as making other offensive comments, has been suspended from his political party.
Following an internal investigation, the Guernsey Party yesterday decided that Deputy Chris Le Tissier's conduct had "brought the party into disrepute."
Yesterday afternoon's statement marks the first time that the party has taken a stance on their member's actions on Twitter, which saw him pose as a member of the public, trolling other Deputies and criticising Holocaust historian Dr Gilly Carr, who he pointed out was "not local" and said should "leave Guernsey alone."
Following an investigation by Express into reports that Deputy Le Tissier was 'The Pirate @Radiosutch299', the recently-elected Deputy owned up on Thursday afternoon.
Pictured: Deputy Le Tissier's tweets to Dr Gilly Carr, which were posted under a pseudonym.
At the time, the Guernsey Party said it was "investigating" what had happened. Since Thursday, code of conduct complaints have been lodged against Deputy Le Tissier and both Guernsey's Home Affairs and the Development and Planning Authority have asked him to leave committee meetings throughout the independent investigation process.
This week, the Guernsey Party made its own Twitter page private in response to people "attack[ing] every single tweet of ours with vitriol", according to the group.
"The Guernsey Party has concluded an internal code of conduct investigation into recent public allegations of misconduct by Deputy Le Tissier," said a spokesman this afternoon.
"Although Deputy Le Tissier's activities were personal and did not involve or represent the Party, the Committee has concluded that his conduct fell below the standard expected by The Guernsey Party and brought the Party into disrepute. Deputy Le Tissier has been suspended from the Party for six months with immediate effect."
Deputy Le Tissier has apparently "volunteered to undertake social media use training".
Pictured: The Guernsey Party's principles state that members must be truthful and should set an example with their behaviour.
With one confirmed code of conduct complaint against Deputy Le Tissier, others being drafted and the Deputy himself self-referring to the complaints panel on the request of political colleagues, the walls appear to be closing in on the newly-elected Deputy.
However, as things stand, Deputy Le Tissier retains his voting rights in the States of Deliberation, which is next set to meet on 17 March.
Despite issuing an "apology" on Thursday, he has denied "trolling" anyone and has sought to explain months of subversive tweets since his election to the States as an "uncharacteristic lapse of judgement."
There are three stages to the Code of Conduct Complaints process. The first stage focuses on whether the complaint has any substance.
The States Members' Code of Conduct states that: "Members shall at all times conduct themselves in a manner which will tend to maintain and strengthen the public’s trust and confidence in the integrity of the States of Deliberation and never undertake any action which would bring the States, or its Members generally, into disrepute."
It also states that: "Members shall at all times treat other Members, civil servants and members of the public with respect and courtesy and without malice, notwithstanding the disagreements on issues and policy which are a normal part of the political process."
Should the complaint/complaints be substantiated, the panel will then decide on what it sees as the most appropriate form of censure.
The options range in severity from a caution, to outright expulsion from the States of Guernsey.
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