A LONG-SERVING States Member has been suspended without pay for four weeks after being fined in the Magistrate’s Court for motoring offences.
Deputy Philip Ozouf was forced to leave the States Chamber after Members ultimately voted in favour of his suspension following a lengthy debate this morning.
The Privileges and Procedures Committee – which is responsible for the code of conduct for States Members – had lodged the proposition arguing that the former Treasury Minister’s behaviour had fallen short of public expectations of States Members.
Opening the debate, PPC Chair Deputy Steve Ahier said that Deputy Ozouf had breached codes relating to public duty, personal conduct, the conflict between public and private interest and maintaining the integrity of the States.
“We know from the 2024 Jersey Opinions and Lifestyles Survey that trust in this Assembly is low and so we should be listening to the public when they tell us that a Member’s behaviour has left them disappointed and had reduced trust and respect for us all,” Deputy Ahier said.
Deputy Ozouf said that he was “immensely embarrassed” that the Assembly’s time was being taken up by discussion around his behaviour.
He apologised to the Assembly and said it was “up to Members whether or not they think the explanations or mitigations I have given is sufficient or not to deal with the most severe sanction”.
Yesterday evening, Deputy Ozouf had given a statement to Members in which he outlined the difficult personal circumstances he was dealing with at the time of his offending and his diagnosis with ADHD.
Several Members spoke to suggest that suspending Deputy Ozouf without pay was disproportionate – particularly given he had already been fined by the Magistrate’s Court.
However, others spoke of the need to uphold standards and maintain trust in the Assembly.
Members ultimately voted 29 votes to 17 in favour of the suspension, with three absentions.
Deputy Ozouf was fined £575 earlier this year for driving his BMW at 31mph in a 15mph green lane.
Upon being pulled over it also transpired that the Deputy had failed to show a valid insurance disc – although he had been insured at the time.
Deputy Ozouf subsequently failed to attend three parish hall inquiries and was therefore summoned to appear before the Magistrate’s Court where he admitted his offence.
The Commissioner for Standards published a report which found that Deputy Philip Ozouf’s actions “did not meet the standards of leadership, integrity, and accountability expected of those holding public office”.
This prompted the Privileges and Procedures Committee to lodge a proposition calling on the States Assembly to suspend Deputy Ozouf due to multiple breaches of the code of conduct for politicians.
