Minister resigns
Wednesday 2nd June 2010, 3:00PM BST.
Senator Terry Le Main, who says that he wrote to the Law Officers because he felt that a prosecution was wrong
HOUSING Minister Terry Le Main has resigned from office after links going back decades emerged between him and the property developer he tried to get cleared of Housing Law breaches.
Senator Le Main tendered his resignation as a minister last night after being confronted by the press over the fact that developer Frank Venton has ‘sponsored’ his election campaigns since 1978.
The Senator had claimed that the two were not friends, that he had done nothing wrong and that he had nothing to hide. But this morning he issued a statement announcing his resignation, although admitting no wrongdoing, and referring to ‘media and frenzied allegations’.
On Saturday, Senator Le Main agreed to step aside from his duties as Housing Minister temporarily while an inquiry was held into comments made during Mr Venton’s sentencing on charges of breaking the Housing Law in the Royal Court on Friday.
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What a sad state of affairs for a man who was once so strong in his support of the people.Sadly with time,all politicians change their values under political pressure.Hopefully Jersey will now learn about openness and transparency.
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On another thread I gave the Senator Le Main the benefit. Innocent until proven guilty.
Oh dear, not only did he try and pervert the course of justice and was caught out ( otherwise why resign ? ) he also blatantly lied.
How can you know a person for 30 years and they sponsor and print your election posters and are very helpful, but not a friend? How can a senior experienced politician stand up and say he was not a friend of Frank Venton who the court found guilty of breaking housing laws.
Our politicians must seen to be whiter than white. I am sure many will want Terry Le Main to resign from the States,and possibly face prosecution. His words are worth nothing now ! If he stays, the assembly will be tarnished.
Davey.
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So the ‘sordid’ details are slowly emerging. Is he staying on as a ‘back bencher’ at 45-50 grand a year.? I really dont think he should be getting any more of my tax payers money.
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Bye Bye Terry, but don’t worry, there’s always that boat in the morning…..
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I think Terry has done the right thing in resigning, but can you imagine anyone at Westminster or Washington resigning?
At Westminster the developer would probably be in the House of Lords by now, and in Washington it is commonplace to find laws changed subsequent to wrongdoers’ lobbying.
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Good riddance!
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No such thing a a free “Venton” lunch
Under pressure of having to return favours Terry was found out – How many others are not ?
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Absolutely disgraceful Mr Le Main should be made to resign from the States it is disgraceful if he is allowed to stay a member!!
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If Mr Le Main can hide his sponsors from Jersey’s election organisers for 32 years,(hard to believe), then have other states members been funded in the same way, by undeclared influences.
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There’s a Senatorial election coming up very soon. If Terry Le Main believes he still has the backing of the public let him resign and stand for election. If he is voted back in so be it, the people have spoken. Otherwise, clear a path for someone that can inspire the voters with their integrity and values.
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At least this one remained in the island.
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Terry Le Mian has done more to help the less well off of this sorry Island then most politicians
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If from what the JEP is reporting is correct then he has clearly attempted to pervert the course of justice.
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The Police should be asked to investigate. That way it will send a warning signal to others.
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If Terry Le Main has any respect for the electorate and this island’s political system he will resign from politics henceforth.
If he wishes to resume a political career he can stand at the next election, letting the public decide whether he is fit to serve in government again.
Le Main has told a political lie of such magnitude that his political integrity can no longer be trusted. For his fellow States members to allow him to remain in the States Chamber will reflect most tragically upon the integrity of our political system, a system which a growing number of islanders are already viewing as somewhat tainted.
Le Main must go, now.
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Amazing. A slightly investigative bit of journalism from the JEP,but don’t stop there.I bet there is plenty more dirt to be dug up.
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Terry le Main should not be allowed to remain as a politician – even a backbencher. How do we know he is not going to abuse his position again.
He was caught lying redhanded, pretending he was not a friend of the accused – when he had had his election campaign sponsored by the accused for 30 years. A case of “if you scratch my back – I’ll scratch yours”. You can tell he is one of TLS’s gang – otherwise he would have had the “Syvret treatment”
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Sadly I suspect this is just the tip of the iceberg.
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Confused is apparently spot on with his view, so now we will see if the States Police are really independent and act or as we all suspect the whole damn system is so corrupt and intertwined with “mates” in high places, no action will be taken. The actions that need to be taken today will either be a clear demonstration globally of either moves to a transparent open justice and government, or a continuation of the elite self serving cartel.
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8. Michael & 10. Tony
Did you actually read the article?
He HAS resigned.
I am not making any comment with regards to his actions, but it really annoys me when people don’t actually read the article and make comments that do not make sense.
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Yes , this is Jersey! Not good for the island’s reputation.
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AG@20 maybe it is you that should read through the articles and blog, the JEP report said,
Senator Le Main tendered his resignation as a minister last night after being confronted by the press over the fact that developer Frank Venton has ‘sponsored’ his election campaigns since 1978.
Terry Le Main is resigning from his post of Minister, but not from the States assembly that actually make the laws that we are bound by law to abide by. He is not resigning this lucrative and privileged high office, although he tried to privately influence the Attorney General over the Mr Venton affair.
Politics and the Judiciary are separate for good reason. After acting dishonestly before the public and his colleague’s in the States, should he resign his seat from Government, or be expelled from the States Chamber ?
Davey
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I have known Terry Le Main for over 40 years and can say that he has always been a honest Jerseyman with principles although he may have acted out of misguided good intent whilst not knowing the full details and truth of the matter involving Mr. Venton who has probaly known Terry as long as I have. Mr. Venton should not have involved Terry in this particular matter and surely owes Terry an apology at least and an explanation as to what information that he gave to Terry.
I know of hundreds of similar instances regarding situations such as Mr. Venton’s over the years and have seen very little actually done about it. Why was Mr. Venton singled out? was it because of Terry’s connection to him, was this not seen as a means to an end of getting rid of Terry ? We shall probaly never know.
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there should be a review of all decisions that housing have made which involve this developer over the last 30 years
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AG at Numebr 20 – Clearly you DIDN’T Read the article. He resigned from the office of Minister NOT from being a States Member, which both 8 and 10 are talkign about.
It really annoys me when people make comments when they don’t read the actual comments they are referrring to!
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20 AG – 8 n 10 meant resign from the Sates totally, not just resign as a minister… And I must say, I agree with them… Mind you, the idea od Power in charge now, well… plus ca change, plus c’est la memme chose
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Well done AG!
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There’s two sides to every story, but who can honestly say that if they had a chance they wouldn’t use there power/influence to try and help out a friend. Fair enough lying wasn’t the brightest idea, but he’s not the first and certainly won’t be the last. Just “unfortunate” he was found out, when others are no doubt just as bad.
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It may be good to ask “did Mr Venton know this letter was being written on his behalf”
Did the letter contain information Terry could have only got from private communication?
I would be most upset if a politician wrote a letter to the AG concerning my case without discussing the content with me.
It is almost worse if this letter was written to the AG without the knowledge of Mr Venton.
What a mess…
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Mr Venton is a prominent property developer that could reasonably be expected to to be familiar with the Jersey housing law.
He broke that law and was prosecuted for it.
I suppose we should not laugh but it is a bit like a driving instructor being done for speeding!
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Mr Venton must have made a few quid through rent over the best part of 2 years and gets a fine that does not even cover half of what he could have made! so although he has had his name put thought the paper it seems he would have won financally……is that fair?
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A few years ago a pub in town let 4 A to H locally qualified flats to people without qualifications. Just shortly after a woman was fined over £20 thousand, because the court said doing this sort of thing is SERIOUS, obviously only serious for some!
No prosecution, in fact the Housing department allowed the owner of the pub to change the status of the flats to Lodging House accommodation.
.
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After apparently over 3 decades of (covert) “sponsorship” it seems rather unlikely that this is the first “favour”. – mucky, mucky, mucky ??
How many similar (or more imaginative) sponsorships have evaded public knowledge? The Ventons have apparently admitted providing similar services to several others.
Politics everywhere is in danger from multiple individuals bending and breaking the rules (both written rules and rules of basic honesty and integrity)- There is evidence that Jersey is at least as vulnerable as any in the developed world due to the clique ridden nature of a “small pond” and it’s history of closed door decision making amongst its political “elite”.
Perhaps we can mitigate this vulnerability :
- More Freedom of information ?
- An effective press with an investigative ethos, not over invested in the status quo ?
- Several more on the ball politicians to keep an eye on the old boys, the bad boys and the farm boys ?
Any other suggestions ?
Or we could just leave things as they are – some would like that no doubt.
I would take the view that Jersey’s past success has been largely despite it’s politicians rather than because of them in most cases!
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Been getting away with it for years,long overdue…well past the sell by date ..Good Riddance
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