Top Guernsey politicians accused of bullying civil servants

Tuesday 28 November 2023

Guernsey’s leading group of politicians have been accused of fostering a culture of aggression and bullying during a debate on whether they should get to keep their jobs.

The claims were made by Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez, who was speaking during the debate on the motion of no confidence brought against the Policy and Resources Committee (known as P&R).

The vote of no confidence was brought against the group after they failed to secure backing for their plans to fund the running of the island over the coming years – which largely hinged on the introduction of GST.

After the proposals flopped, Deputy Ferbrache suggested there should be an early election – but other politicians thought that he and his committee should lose their roles instead. The debate opened last week.

"What marks this P&R different [from previous P&Rs] and other committees, is their tone and manner, which can be viscerally aggressive, sometimes to the point of abusive," said Deputy Sausmarez.

"It does feel like E&I has had a particularly high hill to climb when asking for resources and support, in contrast with other committees."

Deputy de Sausmarez's speech focused on the issues her Committee has faced in dealing with P&R and the behaviour of certain members, which she says has been needlessly rude and aggressive.

"The States has become, in this political term, a less attractive place to work," said Deputy de Sausmarez.

Pictured: Chief Minister Deputy Peter Ferbrache defended the P&R Committee against the claims, saying that "occasionally heated words" don't constitute bullying.

She said recruitment challenges could be blamed on the behaviour of certain members of P&R. She stressed that she wasn't talking about Deputy Ferbrache.

In responding to the claims that senior civil servants have had problems, Deputy Ferbrache said he'd never heard of them being bullied.

"I don't think there's anyone in the Bailiwick who hasn't misspoken and occasionally said heated words – it doesn't make you a bully," he said.

In the run-up to the debate, the island's Deputy Chief Minister Mark Helyar and another member of the committee, Deputy David Maloney, handed in their resignations.

At the end of the session, it was decided that the remainder of the debate would be delayed and continued in December's States meeting.

Follow Bailiwick Express Guernsey for all the latest updates...