Jun 29 - Personal Statement From The Leader of the Opposition In Response To “Appalling Allegation”

Written by YGTV Team on 29 June 2015.

The following is a personal statement issued by Danny Feetham, the Leader of the Opposition:

I have been involved in politics for fifteen years and one tends to develop a thick skin over that time.

What happened last Thursday in Parliament, however, was totally unacceptable.

To be told, in a vicious and venomous attack by the Chief Minister in his Budget Reply (to which I had no right to reply of my own) that I had corruptly promised favours in exchange for the Lloyd's Report or conspired to deprive young children, the elderly and disabled of electricity, which is also a criminal offence, is the most appalling allegation ever made against anyone in politics in Gibraltar. They were made without a shred of evidence, and protected by parliamentary privilege.  They are, of course, utter lies and I say that outside Parliament unprotected by privilege.

I am therefore asking Mr Picardo to either withdraw the allegations or repeat them outside Parliament to provide me with an opportunity for appropriate redress. If he does so, I will immediately issue legal proceedings for defamation.

At the end of the day such low standards of behaviour in politics, can only mean that Gibraltar democracy will be the loser. Both our times in politics will one day pass and we have a duty to encourage as wide a participation as possible in local politics. 

Listening to vitriolic personal attacks and threats under cover of parliamentary privilege will do nothing for local democracy and in fact will simply put many people off. 

I can assure everyone that this incident will not deter me from discharging my constitutional responsibilities to the best of my ability.