New Chief Minister Chris Thomas has dropped heavy hints about who two of the ministers will be in his cabinet.
Following his victory over Arbory, Castletown and Malew MHK Kirrie Jenkins, in yesterday’s House of Keys, Thomas was officially sworn in as Chief Minister.
Almost immediately, interest turned to who he would select for the Council of Ministers.
Speaking to Manx.News moments after his victory in the House of Keys, Thomas made it clear that he hoped to keep on Claire Christian as Health Minister and Jane Poole-Wilson as Home Affairs Minister.
He said: “Health care is a job that needs carrying on. MONEYVAL, Home Affairs is a job that needs carrying on.
“So I have given you two clues there!”
Talking to MHKs
He said he would be talking to MHKs in the coming days and hoped to have the new Council of Ministers sitting down by either the end of this week or the start of next week.
Asked whether he would offer a job to his opponent Jenkins, he noted that she had voted against him in the formal confirmatory vote to nominate him as Chief Minister. This is the vote that comes after the head-to-head vote between candidates and a majority is required under House of Keys rules.
Thomas received 22 votes with Jenkins and Ayre and Michael MHK Stephen Broad, who seconded her for Chief Minister, voting against.
He said: “We have talked very warmly about each other and I am sure if she would like to that …
“I couldn’t help but notice that she voted against my eventual election and that was disappointing.”
He added: “I was hoping that all 24 could be onside with this. That is quite an important message to send.
“I want to understand more what she is thinking.”
Treasury Choice
A key decision for Thomas will be who to make Treasury Minister, the position he held in the last administration.
With so much focus on the economy during the general election campaign and the run up to selecting a new Chief Minister, whoever he chooses will play a crucial role in the success of the Thomas administration.
There will have to be at least some new MHKs in the Council of Ministers when it is announced, due to there being only nine MHKs who have served in earlier terms. One of those, David Ashford, is Speaker, so cannot be in the cabinet.
Together We are Stronger
Thomas also revealed what it meant to him personally to be chosen as Chief Minister.
“It is a great honour, as somebody coming to the Isle of Man 25 years ago, first visiting in 1979, to be welcomed to the island, to flourish with the island,” he said.
“Together we are stronger. We lost something in the last decade or so. Let’s get it back again.”
You can watch the full Manx.News interview with Chris Thomas here:
