Kirrie Jenkins and Chris Thomas went head-to-head today for the first time since they were confirmed as candidates to be the next Chief Minister.
A House of Keys hustings meeting was called for this afternoon (October 8), at which the other 21 MHKs were given the chance to put questions to the candidates, with Speaker David Ashford presiding.
The session lasted three hours and, at times, felt as though it would be almost as grueling for viewers who watched the entire livestream, provided by the House of Keys, as it was for the two would-be leaders.
Ashford started the session by inviting each candidate to make opening statements.
Kirrie Jenkins
Jenkins went first. She said: “The Isle of Man needs a different way of working.”
She said her approach was simple.
“First we stabilise, we make sure our public finances, our essential services and our economy has a firm foundation. In uncertain times, the Isle of Man needs to be a safe harbour.
“Then we strengthen. We strengthen our public services, our economy, our infastructure and our communities.
“Then we streamline. We remove duplication, unnecessary processes and delay and we make our government work better for the people who pay for it and who have put us in this privileged position.”
Jenkins warned against continuing to do “what we have always done” and called for a collegiate government, a parliament that scrutinises properly and a civil service supported to give “frank and impartial advice”.
Chris Thomas
Thomas said the island had voted for change and now it wanted action.
“I can lead that change, that action from day one,” he said.
He said he had published a statement of policies for forming the government and developing a programme, meaning a rapid start if he took the helm.
“This post-election period feels different from the others I have experienced,” he added.
“Common ground, but also policy differences between potential ministers, backbenchers and people outside Keys are being drawn out so that the Chief Minister we elect can a team to deliver coherent and focused action to address our real challenges in the right way to make people’s lives better.”
He urged MHKs to look at his track record to “understand” he could work with them.
You can watch a re-run of the entire live stream here:
The House of Keys sits on October 13 to elect a new Chief Minister. One of the candidates must reach 13 votes to succeed.
