Setting a standard of behaviour

Parties involved in the attempt to buy Lime Grove, and in the investigation into exactly what happened, interpret the affair in various ways. This is to be expected, but Mr Swinson would not have accused a politician close to the heart of the action, Treasury Minister Philip Ozouf, of bullying and of manoeuvring to force a senior civil servant from his job had he had absolutely no grounds for doing so.

That said, Senator Ozouf has defended his conduct, saying that although it might have been robust, he was simply doing his job and acting in the best interests of the general public. He might well say the same of the charges of interference and harassment which were levelled against him in connection with the early departure of former States chief executive Bill Ogley.

Most Islanders would, of course, be more than happy to see the public good defended firmly and resolutely. But a problem arises when it comes to defining what the limits of what, in terms of resolute action, is acceptable. Should any means at all be available to a politician eager to save public money, to block a decision or to deal with alleged civil service incompetence – as Niccoló Machiavelli might have advised?

The answer to this question must be a resounding ‘no’. We are best served at a political level if those who represent us accept and apply the same moral standards that are recognised in the wider world. In a nutshell, if bullying is unacceptable in the playground or in the workplace, it is just as unacceptable in the corridors of power.

It would be naïve to imagine that a declaration of this principle by anyone would mean that all wheeling, dealing, scheming, ducking and diving would suddenly disappear from public life. Nevertheless, it is both significant and important that Chief Minister Ian Gorst has said that the time has come to re-examine the way in which politicians and civil servants work together.

This tallies with his promise, articulated in the Strategic Plan, to reform not only the basic mechanics of the public sector but also its culture, values and behaviour.