A BID to suspend Deputy Philip Ozouf for motoring offences is “misguided”, “entirely disproportionate” and should be withdrawn, a senior politician and former Bailiff has said.
Deputy Philip Bailhache, who has completed 16 years as a States Member in a career that has also included stints as Bailiff, Deputy Bailiff, Solicitor General and Attorney General, spoke out in the wake of the proposal by the Privileges and Procedures Committee to suspend Deputy Ozouf for 28 days as a result of motoring offences.
The committee lodged its proposition earlier this week after receiving a report from the commissioner for standards criticising Deputy Ozouf for what was described as a “lapse in judgement, a failure to respect the law and ultimately a breach of public trust”.
But Deputy Bailhache accused PPC of “a serious misjudgement”.
“What has the Deputy done? He failed to display a current motor insurance disc on his car. But he was insured. Who has not committed the administrative oversight of not placing the insurance disc on the windscreen on the correct day?”, he asked. “I do not condone speeding, but he was not driving dangerously or carelessly, nor was he under the influence of drink or drugs.”
Deputy Bailhache said the commissioner, Dr Melissa McCullough, was mistaken in suggesting that there was a legal obligation to attend a parish hall inquiry. This was “an entirely voluntary matter”, he added, albeit advisable in order to avoid a court summons.
While conceding that his fellow Member had been foolish, Deputy Bailhache said Deputy Ozouf had apologised publicly twice and paid a substantial fine.
“Suspension from the States ought to be reserved for the most serious misconduct – Deputy Ozouf’s conduct does not fall within that category,” he said. “He could reasonably have been reprimanded, but suspension from the States would be unfair and entirely disproportionate.
“I hope PPC will reconsider its position and withdraw this misguided proposition.”
Deputy Ozouf was fined £575 earlier this year after being caught driving his BMW at 31mph in a 15mph zone in November 2024. When stopped, he failed to provide valid motor insurance, with the disc in his vehicle having expired. He later failed to attend three parish hall inquiries before pleading guilty in the Magistrate’s Court in February.
