Tim Glover today told MHKs he never expected his motion of no confidence to succeed, but he felt the island needed that debate to happen, but now it has, what happens next?
Alf Cannan’s administration survived the non-binding resolution comfortably in the end, with just six MHKs voting in favour.
While there is unlikely to be any champagne popping in the corridors of power, the tone of the debate made something clear, there will be some congratulatory messages in the CoMin WhatsApp group.
However, one thing was certain, there is no going back on some of what was said.
Those who opposed the Chief Minister throw some big verbal punches which criticised the government’s record and how the island is run.
Arrogance?
Members accused ministers of being arrogant in threatening to resign if Mr Cannan lost, as Onchan MHK Julie Edge put it “implying no-one else can do their jobs”.
There was also stern criticism of what many see as the failings of this government to deal with the housing crisis that dominated the last election, the refusal of government to listen and the personal conduct of Mr Cannan himself, particularly when dealing with his former ministers.
Rushen MHK Dr Michelle Haywood even spoke of being “forced” to vote for the Chief Minister, in part because of the lack of any alternative.
While six MHKs may not seen like much, they are not all the same people who voted against the Budget back in February and, despite the best efforts Dr Alex Allinson (who is in for some tricky times ahead), some today were clear that if they don’t see a Budget they like come February, they may vote against that too.
While his ministers came out swinging for the chief, albeit while threatening to quit if he was forced out, they did so with gusto.
Tim Johnston said he was “dismayed” that the motion was brought and labelled it “frankly an irresponsible move at a time of great challenge for our island”.
Jane Poole-Wilson said it and those who supported the motion ran the “risk of destabilising and paralysing the work that is going on”.
Conciliatory
Mr Cannan himself put out an olive branch to those who opposed him and said: “Where I have fallen short, I am sorry.”
He added: “We are making slow progress, but there is progress, nonetheless, on our island, we will not agree on everything, nor should we.”
Before saying: “The last eight years serving as Chief Minister and Treasury Minister, I’ve always committed the maximum effort each day to my job, seeking always to do what is best for the people of the Isle of Man.”
Mr Cannan would also say his “door is always open” to members, thanked those who spoke to him before the debate and pointed towards a change in how his government would interact and work.
However, he is also going to be aware of the clock ticking, there are fewer than two years to go before the election and it is impossible to say most people feel wealthier, healthier or happier.
While a lot of this administration has been about setting frameworks in place, some of those decisions which have expended the most political capital, such as the Manx Development Corporation, will likely be torn up by a future Tynwald or government.
There aren’t going to be many chances for easy wins, the temporary tax increase is almost certainly not temporary, the doctors could go on strike and the health service will continue to struggle, so while today may have ended some of the rumours, the government is going to have to do a lot to prove that things can, will and have changed.
8 Comments