Former Chief Minister Allan Bell says a major influx of new MHKs should not hold the next government back, but warns they must “hit the ground running”.
Mr Bell told Manx.News that while a large turnover of members could appear disruptive, he does not believe it will slow progress.
He said several outgoing MHKs “contributed very little to the last five years anyway”, adding that new members “are not going to be that much more of a handicap” once they settle in.
Hit The Ground Running
He said the next administration cannot afford a long settling‑in period, with Ramsey facing economic stagnation, empty shops, concerns over jobs for young people, and pressure around housing.
“Government has no luxury of waiting two or three years before they start making decisions,” he said. “We need to hit the ground running.”
Mr Bell also criticised the halt in Ramsey’s regeneration work, saying the project begun a decade ago “got knocked on the head after the election”, leaving the town “looking quite shabby” and in need of investment.
On health, he described “the nonsense, the chaos” at Ramsey Cottage Hospital and the problems at the group practice as issues requiring immediate action.
He added that wind farm proposals have been “badly handled”, saying the public “are unaware totally of what the implications” may be and that he would put the project “on hold for a while”.
Allan Bell served as the Chief Minister of the Isle of Man from October 11, 2011, to October 4, 2016.
You can watch the entire conversation below:
