The government’s External Relations team has been described as working like a “goalkeeper” to protect the island’s interests, as officials revealed they are constantly battling to stop the island being forgotten by UK authorities.
Chris Brannigan, Executive Director of Crown and External Relations, told Tynwald’s constitutional affairs committee that much of the team’s work involves preventing small-scale issues from escalating.
“It’s a bit like being a goalkeeper. You know you’re stopping it from going through. You tend not to get the same reflected glory that the centre forward does when you’re knocking them into the opponent’s net, but you do stop things happening that damage your overall chances of competing,” he said.
The committee heard that the team’s work is often reactive, with Mr Brannigan admitting they “do miss things”.
Chief Minister Alf Cannan acknowledged the “continuous process” of reinforcing the island’s constitutional position with UK officials, noting that politicians generally have a “reasonably short shelf life” in Westminster.