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A mystery voice was heard to exclaim "d***head" in Guernsey's States Chamber among a number of other unparliamentary outbursts on Friday... but no one has come forward to own up to the bad language.
The unflattering utterance was made on Friday afternoon as Deputy Lester Queripel was speaking during a debate on the future of Herm School. A woman was heard to sigh loudly before saying the 'D-word'.
Later in the same debate, while Deputy John Gollop was talking, a woman's voice can be heard swearing and exclaiming about "staples".
The meetings were broadcast live online as well as on BBC Guernsey radio, and remain available to listen to online.
"The problem arose from a Teams feed being open. It is a problem that is easily resolved, won’t reoccur and on this occasion was probably compounded by the recent installation of a new sound system in the Royal Court Chamber, which is still bedding in," a spokesperson said.
HOT MIC moment in the States - During Deputy Lester Queripel's speech on the Herm Requete someone publicly called someone else a 'd**khead'
— Bailiwick Express Guernsey (@BailiwickGsy) September 8, 2023
Guernsey's States Chamber isn't the only one in the Channel Islands to be plagued by unparliamentary outbursts.
In July, Jersey's States Assembly was collectively taken aback by an exclamation of, "you stupid woman!" by a female voice during a speech by Deputy Moz Scott.
States Members in seats surrounding the Deputy looked astonished as they endeavoured to find the source of such apparent impertinence, which was picked up clearly on microphone.
Video: The moment of the unparliamentary outburst in Jersey's States Assembly.
But after a few seconds of awkward pause, Deputy Scott soldiered on.
She later sent an email to States Members explaining what had happened.
She said: “Some of you were intrigued and concerned about an interruption during my speech yesterday.
“Just to let you know, I received an explanation and apology from a Greffe officer this morning, who assured me the comment was not directed to me and was a self-rebuke.
“I commend the individual for fessing up to the unintended double act and hope the self talk is kinder in future.”
Then, earlier this month, Deputy Scott herself received a language-related rebuke.
She was found to have breached the code of conduct for States Members by telling Deputy Max Andrews to "f*** off". Deputy Scott was subsequently asked to apologise to Deputy Andrews, who is facing a vote of censure for his own behaviour, in writing by the Privileges and Procedures Committee.
Revealed: The rude phrases that could get you expelled from the States
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