In a statement, Social Security Minister Judy Martin said she had asked the Deputy to resign after he proposed a vote of no confidence in the States Employment Board amid ongoing pay disputes with public sector staff.
She said that proposing such a vote of no confidence in the work of an ‘integral part’ of the government he was a part of as an Assistant Minister was unacceptable.
However, Deputy Southern refused to resign and was therefore dismissed.
The minister said: ‘When Deputy Southern proposed a vote of no confidence in the States Employment Board I regretfully asked the Deputy to resign from his position as my Assistant Minister, as a vote of no confidence is a very serious matter.
‘The Chief Minister has made a point of accepting a range of views in government, and has chosen not to operate under collective responsibility. However, in my view, it is not compatible to occupy the role of Assistant Minister in a government while also proposing a vote of no confidence in the work of an integral part of that government.
‘As Deputy Southern has declined my request for his resignation, I have no other option but to dismiss him as my Assistant Minister. This is effective immediately.’
