Speculation is mounting that the much-vaunted Council of Ministers’ Policy Plan is about to be unveiled.
Chief Minister Chris Thomas made the potential of a Policy Plan and its annual debate in Tynwald a central plank of his bid to achieve the top job.
Reports coming out of legislative buildings revealed that a number of backbenchers noticed an absence of ministers from the usual corridors yesterday (November 9), leading to speculation that something major is about to be announced.
It’s possible it will be published under a different title.
At the October sitting of Tynwald, Thomas referred to it being in the public arena this month, and there was even a suggestion the debate could be in November also.
So far, nothing has appeared. If it is to appear on the Tynwald agenda for the November sitting, it would require a suspension of standing orders.
One possibility may be that it is laid before the November Tynwald, via a supplementary Order Paper, or even placed on the Tynwald Register of Business; in either case with a view to it being debated at the December sitting.
That could help assuage concerns over a lack of time for any meaningful public engagement over the contents of the Policy Plan, which would otherwise be debated with the public only having one week to give feedback.