This morning, the Senator and Chief Minister Frank Walker issued a joint statement following yesterday afternoon’s emergency meeting of the council. It said that Senator Syvret’s letter did breach the code of conduct for politicians but that the Senator himself said he continued to believe the letter to be ‘legitimate free speech and therefore not a breach of the ministerial code’. The statement said that the Senator respected the Council’s right to hold a different opinion but the Council said the letter did not demonstrate an appropriate standard of respect or courtesy to members of the public and States Members. ‘The Council is disappointed with and disassociates itself from the tone and language of the letter,’ said the statement. Senator Walker, with Senator Syvret sitting beside him, said he was pleased Senator Syvret had accepted some of the wording he used was ‘inappropriate and could have caused some offence.’ Senator Syvret said in the statement that in accordance with the code he would in future ‘endeavour in the course of his public and private conduct, not to act in a manner which would bring the States or its members generally, into disrepute.’
Jersey Evening Post
