ALTHOUGH it never seemed likely to conclude in a knife-edge vote, the suspension debate relating to Deputy Philip Ozouf nevertheless sparked tension among States Members.
Ahead of the debate, Deputy Sir Philip Bailhache proposed that it be postponed by a fortnight.
He described this as a question of fairness, citing the “fundamental principle of hearing the other side”.
Deputy Jonathan Renouf spoke against delaying the debate, saying that the move by Deputy Bailhache “had a whiff of the establishment looking after itself”.
“It’s hard to say if the same generosity would have been shown [by Deputy Bailhache] to a political foe,” he said.
Deputy Renouf added: “I can’t think of another Member in this position who would not have resigned – what has gone on has been completely beyond the realms of what’s acceptable.”
St Helier Constable Simon Crowcroft criticised those Members who he accused of “wanting to have their pound of flesh” and called on them to “show some statesmanship” in determining how to deal with a colleague who was ill.
Putting off the debate would, Deputy Montfort Tadier argued, “not be the right thing to do and not what the public wanted”.
St John Constable Andy Jehan said that while States Members were not employees, it was wrong to say that a tribunal or hearing would not proceed in an employee’s absence, either in Jersey or the UK.
“This was a serious offence involving other people and I hope Deputy Ozouf would have done the right thing and resigned,” he added.
Deputy Bailhache’s postponement proposition was defeated by 35 votes to 11, with two abstentions.
With focus switching to the main proposition about whether Deputy Ozouf should be suspended for 28 days without pay, the chair of the Privileges and Procedures Committee opened the debate.
Deputy Steve Ahier said the code of conduct for States Members spelled out that politicians must not act in a manner likely to bring the Assembly into disrepute and were required to uphold the law, adding that his committee had a responsibility to uphold high standards.
A sombre tone was set by Deputy Tom Binet, who said his experience involved with serious mental illness over many years left him feeling, after meeting Deputy Ozouf, that he had “seldom seen anyone in such a mess”.
This wasn’t pleasant for anyone to hear, and there was criticism for those Members wanting to press for suspension.
Constable Simon Crowcroft spoke of the desire of some participants to “get their pound of flesh” while Deputy Philip Bailhache described “an air of vindictiveness that is unworthy of this Assembly”.
The Assembly had already punished Deputy Ozouf for the immigration offences, Deputy Bailhache argued, by suspending him, with pay, in November until the date of sentencing by the Royal Court.
He said: “This suspension lasted 12 weeks – it was described as a ‘neutral act’, but had a devastating impact.”
“Enough is enough”, Deputy Bailhache added, referring to the previous “humiliation” of Deputy Ozouf of an earlier three-month suspension for the same offence.
But that was enough for other Members, who felt the need to express the other side of the argument.
Deputy Rob Ward said the matter was “not about getting a pound of flesh but about the integrity of the States Assembly” saying that all Members had suffered reputational damage because of what had happened.
The offences to which Deputy Ozouf had pleaded guilty to represented a “de facto breach of the code of conduct” and should be punished as such regardless of the personalities involved.
Constable Karen Stone, hardly a politician renowned for flying off the handle, said she took exception to Deputy Bailhache’s comments.
“I’m not vindictive, I’m not baying for blood,” she said. “This is not nice for anyone, and I do feel for Deputy Ozouf that he is suffering with his mental health, but he brought this on himself.
“He should have resigned and he did this [breach of the law] as an intelligent man when he was a minister, and we should bear that in mind.”
Mrs Stone must have repeated her discomfort and desire not to be having the debate half a dozen times, and Deputy Ozouf’s friend and political ally Deputy Kristina Moore was another to appear upset.
Deputy Moore said she understood that Deputy Ozouf had, at his own request, not claimed his States Member’s salary [£59,874.72 per annum] since his sentencing hearing in early February.
However, following a conversation with the Greffier, the Bailiff Robert MacRae said that regardless of Deputy Ozouf’s wishes about whether to take his salary, he had continued to be paid and that such payments could only be stopped if the Assembly voted to suspend him.
Deputy Renouf referred to the “enormous sympathy” he had for Deputy Ozouf for the “terrible hand” that he had been dealt in his personal life, but that the legal position had to be considered separately.
He added: “Deputy Ozouf has been urged by multiple people to resign and has made a conscious choice not to do so – he has chosen to remain in the firing line.”
The hopes of some early speakers that there was no need for a long debate wasn’t quite realised, but shortly before 11am, the debate that had begun at 9.40am was concluded.
When it came to the vote, 34 Members supported the proposed suspension, which will stretch until Tuesday 7 April.
It represents the third time Deputy Ozouf had been suspended by the Assembly in the past seven months.
The former Treasury Minister won’t be permitted to return to the Chamber until after the political term wraps up on 2 April, and although he could take part in the Liberation Day sitting, it is understood he does not intend to stand in the election on 7 June.
A vote that was as clear-cut as had always seemed likely marked the final stage, and potentially the concluding act of Deputy Ozouf’s time in the States Assembly.
Five Members voted against the suspension: Mr Crowcroft and Deputies Carolyn Labey, Rose Binet, Tom Binet and Bailhache, while six abstained – Constable Philip Le Sueur and Deputies Moore, Ian Gorst, David Warr, Moz Scott and Karen Wilson – and three did not vote (Constables Marcus Troy, Kevin Lewis and Richard Vibert).
