A REVIEW of punishments for States Members who breach the Code of Conduct is already under way but may not be completed before the end of 2026 due to next summer’s election, the Privileges and Procedures Committee has said.
Next week, the States Assembly is due to debate a proposition from Deputy Raluca Kovacs which calls on the PPC – which is responsible for overseeing the Code of Conduct – to look into increased suspensions, the introduction of a recall mechanism and disqualifying politicians from office.
Under current States Standing Orders, the Assembly has the power to impose a 28-day suspension without pay, a suspension with pay as a “neutral act” or formally reprimand a Member through a vote of censure.
In official comments, the PPC has said it is “prepared to accept” the proposals as “this is work on which the Committee has, in fact, already embarked”.
“The Committee has begun to consider the existing provisions within Standing Orders in relation to sanctions for breaching the Code of Conduct as well as the provisions of the States of Jersey Law 2005 in respect of disqualification from office,” the comments paper continued.
Earlier this month, Deputy Philip Ozouf was suspended from the Assembly, with pay, until such time as criminal proceedings against him are concluded. Deputy Ozouf appeared in the Royal Court last month to plead guilty to five charges relating to the employment of Rwandan nationals, in breach of restrictions about the nature of work they were permitted to carry out in Jersey – offences which could bring a substantial jail term.
Despite facing calls to resign, Deputy Ozouf has kept his position as a representative of St Saviour and while he is suspended from attending and participating in States sittings, he is still able to continue to serve his constituents and the Assembly does not have the power to remove him from office.
Deputy Kovacs’s proposition calls on the Privileges and Procedures Committee, which is responsible for upholding the States Members’ Code of Conduct, to review the sanctions available and report back to the Assembly before the end of next year.
The PPC added: “The Deputy’s proposition envisages that the review of Standing Orders will be completed in time for a report to be presented to the States before 31 December 2026.
“Whilst PPC will endeavour to make progress within the current term, it is possible that this work will straddle two Assemblies and two PPCs; the current Committee cannot therefore predict what findings its successor may reach.”
An amendment from Deputy Moz Scott seeks to further expand the scope of the review to include analysis of the complaints procedures. The PPC said it has already begun to consider this.
The proposition is due to be debated during next week’s States sitting.
