Channel Islands' parliamentary Standards Commissioner resigns

Friday, 28 November 2025 08:10

Dr Melissa McCullough, the joint commissioner for Jersey and Guernsey, made the move after deputy Gavin St Pier easily won a vote into his conduct.

Dr Melissa McCullough's report, and that of another independent standards commissioner, were behind the vote to suspend deputy Gavin St Pier.

It follows a complaint by a local doctor about deputy St Pier's conversation with a Guardian journalist around safeguarding issues.

During debate, that lasted more than a day, deputy Charles Parkinson, and others, warned that voting against the Commissioner for Standards recommendation of a 25 day suspension would have consequences:

"There has been some discussion about how they (the States Assembly and Constitution Committee and the Standards Commissioner) might react.

"In my view they would have no alternative but to resign.

"And it's further my opinion that it would be very difficult for the States to approve anyone to replace them."

Hours after deputy St Pier won the vote, 22-11, with him being one of five not to vote, Dr Mellissa Mcullough resigned.

Her position was untenable because a Commissioner, appointed by the States, to oversee the parliamentary code, was ignored by a majority of deputies.

The States Assembly and Constitution Committee develops and oversees States' procedure and rules.

The ball is firmly in their court as to how they handle the political fall out from the St Pier vote.

But, to complicate matters, the Commissioner for Standards position also oversees Jersey's Assembly.

The 17 Guernsey families represented by deputy Gavin St Pier are calling on deputies and healthcare bosses for change in an open but unsigned email received by us.

They claim their children have been failed by paediatric care and safeguarding services over nearly 10 years.