Policy on Public Comment and Political Involvement

          (a) Members must not occupy paid party political posts in Gibraltar, or hold particularly sensitive or senior roles whether paid or unpaid in a political party in Gibraltar which involves making public or personal comments. Members are free to engage in political activities provided that they are conscious of their general public responsibilities and exercise proper discretion. If a member accepts a nomination for election to the Parliament of Gibraltar or any other elected public office, then they will resign their appointment as member.

(b) The Chief Executive is the Commission’s spokesperson and is responsible for all public comments whether made directly or with their authority. Members must not express views publicly on matters concerning the Commission, financial sector regulation or enforcement in Gibraltar, unless they are clearly speaking on behalf of the Commission and communicating Commission policy which has been previously cleared with the Chairman and Chief Executive.  Members must not make any comments in public that undermine the Commission.

(c) Members must not, by the manner or tone in which they express views publicly on matters other than those within the remit of the Commission, bring the Commission into disrepute nor jeopardise its good relations with the firms which it regulates, Gibraltar trade associations, other financial sector regulators, the Government of Gibraltar or overseas governments.

(d) Public expression of views by Commission Members includes blogging, tweeting, writing articles or books, speaking to members of the press, public speaking, speaking to members of the financial services industry or professional groups or procuring third parties to speak on their behalf.

(e) Proper discretion (see (a) above) means that views expressed will not include any statements which a reasonable person could consider as a personal attack whether made by a member personally or permitted by them by for example inclusion of comments as set out in (d) above.

(f) If a member is an office holder in a professional, business or trade association and that body wishes to criticise the policies or personalities of the Government of the day or the Commission the member must not be associated personally and publicly with such criticisms.

General

If a Commission Member is in any doubt whether any of the above applies that member should consult the Chairman of the Commission immediately. If any other Commission Member considers a fellow member is stepping outside the rules that member should take it up with the member concerned in the first instance referring the matter to the Chairman if they consider that the matter is not resolved.