Trolling politician kicked out of Guernsey's parliament for a year

Wednesday 14 July 2021

Guernsey politicians have voted to boot a Deputy out of their parliament for one year for trolling an Occupation historian using an anonymous Twitter account.

After being unmasked as 'the Pirate' on Twitter following an Express investigation, a Code of Conduct Panel recommended Deputy Chris Le Tissier's expulsion from Guernsey's States for breaking six sections of the guidelines governing States members' behaviour relating to honesty, transparency and upholding public confidence.

A second panel was convened following an appeal by Deputy Le Tissier, determining that his anonymous, derogatory remarks to others warranted a one-year suspension from the States, but not outright expulsion.

In a hotly-contested debate this afternoon, 25 Guernsey Deputies voted in favour of suspension - the first time that this punishment has been meted out.

Five opposed the motion, and nine refused to vote altogether. Deputy Chris Le Tissier was not given the option to vote.

In a speech before leaving the Chamber, the suspended Home Affairs and Development and Planning Authority member argued that the "sole purpose of his tweets was to provoke robust debate" on important subjects.

Deputy Le Tissier "profusely apologised" for his behaviour, while also making excuses about the Code of Conduct panel's "distressful" hearing and saying its processes were "not fit-for-purpose".

He argued that what was dubbed by one colleague as 'The Impeachment of Deputy Le Tissier' had been engineered as a “political issue rather than as a tool of good governance by some deputies”.

Pictured: One of the tweets, posted under a pseudonym, that formed the basis of conduct complaints against the former Guernsey Party member. 

He maintained that his suspension was an excessive punishment for his actions and, above all, "categorically denied" being prejudiced, misogynistic or xenophobic in relation to his comments about women and non-locals, saying that he had an English partner and British friends. 

Deputy Le Tissier vowed, upon his return, not to repeat his actions, while standing by his passion for local rights. 

"I will not stop championing the role of locals. Some perceive we are developing into a two tier society that leaves them behind. I stood for election to do something about it."

It will be at least one year before he has the opportunity to deliver on that pledge.