Former Chief Ministers Tony Brown and Howard Quayle have strongly criticised Tynwald’s decision to stop paying MHKs and MLCs for serving in government departments, warning it undermines good governance.
The two men were appearing before a Tynwald committee exploring the functions and structure of government.
Members are no longer paid to be members of departments, a move that was made before the last general election after concerns of the government block vote being backed up by members to force through policy.
Mr Brown called the move “nonsensical,” stating: “It’s not compulsory to be on the department, but it’s a bit nonsensical to say, come work on the department, work all hours, and we’re not paying you any more money. That doesn’t work anywhere else.”
He argued the change devalues hands-on experience, saying members without departmental roles “haven’t got a clue how a department works.”
Courage
Mr Quayle, who opposed the change during his tenure, warned: “Tynwald just put itself in an incredibly bad position now where people don’t go on a department.”
He contrasted scrutiny work with ministerial responsibilities: “Any fool can throw a rock, but it takes real courage to roll up your sleeves and build something.”
Both leaders predicted long-term consequences as Mr Quayle asked: “If we have elected members who don’t have any departmental experience… who’s going to sit on those departments and oversee what’s going on?”
While Mr Brown added bluntly: “It’s undermined the system without a doubt.”
The former Chiefs highlighted unfairness in two-member constituencies. Brown noted: “Why would one member work in the department for no extra pay, and the other wander around being Mr Nice Guy?”
Mr Quayle defended departmental work’s value, recalling how his infrastructure role helped secure walking paths along railway tracks for constituents.
Mr Brown added that “when I elect somebody, I expect them to work in government”.
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