The Channel Islands’ Commissioner for Standards has refused to “step aside” after a former Jersey politician raised concerns, similar to those previously aired in Alderney and Guernsey.
In a letter published in Jersey, Moz Scott has suggested Dr Melissa McCullough step aside while her concerns are investigated by the island’s Privileges and Procedures Committee.
In response, Dr McCullough told Express: “I categorically reject the allegations and characterisations contained in Ms Scott’s letter.
“I am not the subject of any complaint or investigation, and there is no basis for me to step aside from my responsibilities as Commissioner for Standards.
“As a matter of longstanding practice, I do not engage in public exchanges concerning individual cases.
“My focus remains on carrying out my responsibilities fairly, robustly and independently, and serving the communities that have entrusted me with this role.”
Ms Scott’s concerns centre around the publication of an investigation into herself and another former Jersey politician. She was cleared while complaints against Philip Ozouf were upheld.
Ms Scott said she was concerned about how the complaints against her were investigated and handled.
“I am aware that similar concerns have been expressed by parliamentarians in other jurisdictions in which you act as Commissioner for Standards and do not believe that remaining silent about my concerns serves either States Members or the public interest,” she added.
Ms Scott also warned that if Dr McCullough chooses to remain in post while an investigation is held, it could “undermine confidence in the office of Commissioner and any conclusions reached in Commissioner investigations”.
That notion was dismissed by Jersey’s Privileges and Procedures Committee.
The Chair of the committee defended the Standards Commissioner’s work in the island, thanking her for “her ongoing professionalism and commitment to maintaining high standards and adherence to our Code of Conduct”.
Deputy Carina Alves said: “While we are mindful of the individuals involved and that they are no longer in elected office, the Committee has a responsibility to ensure there is openness and accountability in the process.
“I am pleased to see the complaints procedure operating as intended, demonstrating that concerns can be considered independently and thoroughly.”
Dr McCullough is the Commissioner for Standards for all of the Channel Islands except Guernsey.
She resigned from that position almost a year ago after the States of Guernsey decided not to uphold her recommendation to suspend Deputy Gavin St Pier.
Deputy St Pier had defended himself before his political colleagues, querying missing evidence and the direction of the complaint investigation from the outset at the same time.
His Forward Guernsey colleagues also warned that suspending Deputy St Pier would lead to a “chilling effect” risking “setting a precedent that we fear will jeopardise States Members’ ability to do the most fundamental part of our jobs. Namely, representing constituents and engaging with the media”.
Dr McCullough has recently been embroiled in an ongoing situation in Alderney, where States Member Alex Snowdon is suspended until the new year after he shared information about a mooted data centre in the island, and then failed to apologise for doing so.
Mr Snowdon told Express that the “Code of Conduct is being used to silence those of us raising legitimate concerns about hyper-scale data centres on Alderney”.
