Deputy Kirsten Morel has been found to have behaved 'unacceptability' towards Deputy Barbara Ward in February 2023.

Deputy Ward claims that her 'personal dignity' was violated when the Deputy Chief Minister was 'verbally aggressive, threatening and angry' towards her.

It was during the first day of a vote of no confidence debate in Deputy Geoff Southern as the chair of the Health and Social Care Scrutiny panel.

However, the complaint wasn't filed until July, five months after the incident.

"Deputy Morel crossed over from the far side of the Chamber, stepped up the aisle to where we were standing, invaded my personal space and just commenced making accusations. I felt so intimidated by his closeness and aggressive verbal manner that I thought he was going to hit me as he appeared so cross with me" - Deputy Barbara Ward in her complaint.

Deputy Ward (pictured) said she was "shaken up" and kept awake at night following the exchange.

She told the Commissioner for Standards this apparently isn't the first incident of its kind, saying the deputy 'is known for having his outbursts'.

One politician who witnessed the event said "it wasn't a pleasant exchange", with another saying while it wasn't "warm and cuddly", it wasn't aggressive.

Deputy Morel refuted the allegations.

“[I] spoke factually, did not raise my voice, shout, make threats, use disparaging names, discriminatory language or use any body language that could be interpreted as aggressive or bullying."

The Commissioner For Standards says that the 'extended process' had a personal toll on Deputy Morel.

"When the incident occurred in February 2023 to the timing of the complaint made against him in July 2023 and the Commissioner’s report being submitted (November 2023).

During the meeting, Deputy Morel also raised a number of matters regarding the Committee’s communication around complaints and the process followed after a report is submitted by the Commissioner to the Committee."

The Privileges and Procedure Committee says that it will 'look into' the matters.

The Commissioner found that Deputy Morel had broken the States Code of Conduct - particularly paragraph five, 'Maintaining the integrity of the States'.

He has accepted the findings and says he will apologise to Deputy Ward.