MHKs table 18 questions for Jenkins and Thomas ahead of Chief Minister vote

Eighteen questions have been tabled for Kirrie Jenkins and Chris Thomas as the House of Keys meets this morning (13 October) to choose the island’s next Chief Minister, Manx Radio reported.

The sitting at the Legislative Buildings in Douglas is due to start at 10:00. It is the first meeting of the Keys since the general election, and choosing a Chief Minister is its only business, according to 3FM.

Mrs Jenkins, newly elected for Arbory, Castletown and Malew, would be the island’s first female Chief Minister, Isle of Man Today noted. Mr Thomas, the Douglas Central MHK and current Treasury Minister, has served in the Keys for more than a decade. The winner will succeed Alfred Cannan, who remains Chief Minister until a decision is made, Energy FM said.

According to Manx Radio, the questions include:

• Garff MHK Richard Henthorn asking whether the candidates would ‘fully support’ publishing the full, unredacted agreement for lease held by the Department of Infrastructure under the Marine Infrastructure Management Act
• Ramsey MHK Robert Cowell, who proposed Mr Thomas, asking for three specific priorities for each candidate’s first 100 days
• Glenfaba and Peel MHK Katryna Baptist, who nominated Mrs Jenkins, asking how they would improve the working culture in Tynwald so members can ‘work well together for the benefit of islanders’
• Daniel Davison, who also represents Glenfaba and Peel, asking how many newly elected members each would bring into the Council of Ministers

Other questions cover economic growth, skills shortages and apprenticeships, safeguards for older people online, nursing care funding, extending childcare credit, the response to MONEYVAL and gaps in mental health provision.

Apart from the candidates, the only MHKs who did not table questions were David Ashford, Mr Cannan, Rob Callister and Jane Poole-Wilson, Manx Radio said.

Energy FM said the sitting is due to follow opening statements from the candidates, the question session and closing statements before voting. A candidate needs at least 13 of the 24 votes in the Keys in a confirmatory vote.

If neither reaches that number, the Speaker, David Ashford, may adjourn the sitting before a second vote, and the process can be opened to fresh nominations, Manx Radio reported. Energy FM said that could happen later today or tomorrow.

Fifteen of the 24 MHKs are new to politics, BBC News Isle of Man reported. Former Chief Minister Mr Bell, who took the post in 2011 after nine years as Treasury Minister, told the BBC there were fewer experienced politicians and long-serving civil servants to guide the new administration, calling that “quite a worry”.

He urged new members to cooperate rather than compete, and said: “One absolute failing of the last government was poor communication.” He added that the incoming Chief Minister would need to stay focused on international events as well as matters closer to home.