ECONOMIC Development Minister Kirsten Morel has been found to have breached the States Code of Conduct following a fiery confrontation with a fellow Deputy following a debate.
Deputy Barbara Ward claimed that Deputy Morel invaded her personal space and was intimidating and verbally aggressive.
“I felt so intimidated by his closeness and aggressive verbal manner that I thought he was going to hit me as he appeared so cross with me,” Deputy Ward told the Commissioner for Standards.
The incident happened on 28 February following the first day of a vote of no confidence debate relating to the chair of Health and Social Security Scrutiny Panel.
The Commissioner received the complaint on 17 July.
Following an investigation, the commissioner concluded that Deputy Morel breached the requirements of Article 5 of the Code of Conduct for Elected Members by behaving in an unacceptable way towards Deputy Ward, and in doing so, failed to show her respect and courtesy.
He was told to apologise to Deputy Ward.
In his written response to the complaint, Deputy Morel rejected that he was aggressive or bullying, writing: “[I] spoke factually, did not raise my voice, shout, make threats, use disparaging names, discriminatory language or use any body language that could be interpreted as aggressive or bullying.”
But he acknowledged the commissioner’s findings and the breach of Article 5 of the Code of Conduct. Deputy Morel also accepted the commissioner’s recommendation and confirmed that he would apologise to Deputy Ward.
In her evidence, Deputy Ward said: “Deputy Morel crossed over from the far side of the Chamber, stepped up the aisle to where we were standing, invaded my personal space and just commenced making accusations I felt so intimidated by his closeness and aggressive verbal manner that I thought he was going to hit me as he appeared so cross with me.
“I cannot remember exactly word for word what he said as I just went into survival/de-escalation mode but what I do remember is that he accused me of lying and found it shameful that I didn’t even apologise to the Assembly – as in his opinion there was a pattern to my behaviour of some kind”.
She added: “That evening when at home (I live on my own so didn’t have anyone to speak to). I was really upset by this Deputy’s targeted unacceptable behaviour. I couldn’t sleep as this threatening behaviour really shook me up and wondered why this Deputy waited till the end of what for me had been a rather mentally traumatic day having had to defend myself publicly after being accused of doing something I hadn’t done. If the Deputy was not happy with my public response, then he should have spoken up in the States Chamber. However, it appears he wanted to target, bully and intimidate me personally for some reason – only Deputy Morel can explain as to why.”
