Chief Minister sets out Tynwald members for departments and statutory boards

Chief Minister Chris Thomas has announced which Tynwald members will sit in government departments and take charge of several statutory boards, among them Manx Utilities and the Isle of Man Post Office.

The Isle of Man Government published the list on Friday 23 October, seven days after Mr Thomas put together his new Council of Ministers. The appointments draw on both branches of Tynwald, the House of Keys and the Legislative Council.

Mr Thomas said that “since the formation of the Council of Ministers last Friday, we have moved quickly to make political appointments to key roles.” He said further political roles had yet to be filled and would be confirmed at a later date.

According to the Government, and ministerial details reported by Isle of Man Today and Manx Radio, the departments most closely tied to the island’s economy will look like this:

• Treasury: Minister Michael Crowe, supported by Gary Clueit MLC, Kirrie Jenkins MHK and Damian Ciappelli MHK
• Department for Enterprise: Minister Robert Cowell, supported by Rob Mercer MLC, Vicki Hewison MHK, Richard Henthorn MHK and Daniel Davison MHK
• Department of Infrastructure: Minister Jason Moorhouse, supported by Juan McGuinness MHK, Stephen Broad MHK and Richard Henthorn MHK
• Cabinet Office: Mr Thomas, supported by Mark Kemp MHK, Juan McGuinness MHK and Katryna Baptist MHK

Isle of Man Today pointed out that Mr Crowe and Mr Cowell were two of three MHKs, newly elected, who were handed major departments last week. The third was Rachel Glover, who now leads Environment, Food and Agriculture.

Political leadership was also confirmed for four statutory boards that carry out commercial or regulatory work:

• Manx Utilities Authority: James Cochrane MHK to chair, with Peter Reid MLC as his deputy
• Isle of Man Post Office: Katryna Baptist MHK to lead, with Daniel Davison MHK as vice-chair
• Office of Fair Trading: Peter Shimmin MHK to lead, with Paul Craine MLC as vice-chair
• Communications and Utilities Regulatory Authority: Juan McGuinness MHK to sit as a non-voting Tynwald member

The Government said these board roles still need Tynwald’s backing, as do Mr Thomas taking the chair of Culture Vannin and Joney Faragher MHK serving as its second Tynwald member. The Planning Committee will be chaired by Diane Kelsey MLC.

In other departments, Minister Claire Christian’s Department of Health and Social Care will include Andy Saunders MHK, Mark Kemp MHK and James Cochrane MHK, along with Peter Reid MLC and Diane Kelsey MLC. Ms Glover will be joined at Environment, Food and Agriculture by Paul Craine MLC and Peter Shimmin MHK.

Sarah Maltby’s Department of Education, Sport and Culture will have Kirstie Morphet MLC, Vicki Hewison MHK and Daniel Davison MHK as its political members. Mr Shimmin and Ms Morphet will also sit on the Department of Home Affairs.

According to Energy FM, four Tynwald members were left off the list: MHKs Alfred Cannan and Rob Callister, and MLCs Dawn Kinnish and Tanya August-Phillips.

The appointments arrive as the new administration works on its policy plans. Isle of Man Today reported that Tynwald has backed a motion requiring Mr Thomas to set out a Government Programme before November is out, covering priorities, an action plan and a legislative programme, with a review every October.