A MOVE to sack the Bailiff, Sir Philip Bailhache, was comprehensively voted down by the States yesterday.

Deputy Shona Pitman’s proposition was defeated by 47 votes to three, despite her protest that Sir Philip had failed to act on former Vingtenier Roger Holland’s conviction for a child sex offence before his election in 1992, and despite her claims that he had used his position to make political points, notably in this year’s Liberation Day speech.

Her proposition would have formally requested the Queen to remove the Bailiff from office, had it been approved. The Deputy came under attack from Chief Minister Frank Walker, who accused her of trying to score political points before the autumn elections, and who urged the States to reject the proposition without a long debate to ‘show it the disdain it deserved’.

But the Members who voted with her — Senator Stuart Syvret and Deputy Geoff Southern — said that Members should not consider the Bailiff’s role, or any other subject, as ‘taboo’. They told the House they should debate the subject seriously.