The no confidence debate into Chief Minister Alf Cannan has got underway, with mover Tim Glover opening.
No matter what the result, this will be a non-binding resolution, but the politics and number may prove fatal to the administration.
Vote
Motion defeated by six votes to 18.
Glover Closes Debate
“I expected a kicking”
“I did not do this for headlines.”
“This debate has festering away for over a year in here and the outside world.”
“Some exaggerated the whole ‘what if this does succeed?’, but Guernsey and Jersey have gone through the process. I haven’t seen the sky falling in around the Channel Islands as a result of quotes of no confidence.”
“I found the talk of resignation from ministers somewhat arrogant as well, and problem with that is that their loyalty shouldn’t be just to one person. It should be to the people of the Isle of Man.”
Said this debate had to happen and expressed his hopes for a more conciliatory tone going forward.
Cannan
I am always willing to respond, but today has been about listening and reflection.
Thanked his ministers, saying their support has been “humbling”.
“Where I have fallen short, I am sorry.”
“Whatever the outcome today, I can assure you I will continue to serve for as long as you’ll have me”
Barber
DEFA Minister denied hearing any politician had suggested this could be held as a secret vote.
“We want all strong and decisive, chief minister and ministers, but they’re not to teach turn it hurts, it impacts, it changes us. Bold and decisive equals arrogant, calm and quiet equals weak.
“There are many suggestions I’ve seen in the public domain around what we want, and you can’t be all of those things. When we act as a department or Statutory Board, we act as a team. When we act as CoMin, we act as a team and actually, when we act as Tynwald, we are viewed as a team.”
She added: “The best way to make a difference is to be part of the solution, but I’m also sure it’s the hardest way. t’s far easier to sit on the outside and throw stones despite it invariably achieving nothing.”
“I ask you to consider, before you press your button today, is this the best thing for our island.”
Wouldn’t serve in a new administration.
Edge
The system is the biggest issue, our political makeup does not work.
“The heart of today’s debate lies a simple, yet essential question, what kind of leadership, does the Isle of Man need to face the challenges ahead, and realise our full potential?”
“We want the chief minister to show in leadership and above all, conviction in his style of governance. That’s not only forward looking, but grounded in those decisive consistent actions, not with ministers that don’t know or understand.”
“I didn’t want to hear into here today, threatening resignations, not trying to work together and move forward, I found that really unprofessional. That’s implying no-one else can do their jobs.”
The Onchan MHK widely criticised the lack of change across all government across different administrations saying “the public cannot be fooled anymore”.
Ms Edge also said the public sector has grown quicker at any point than she can remember and that it needs to shrink rather than seeing “review after review”.
She added that the government could have easily found the money to ensure Manx Care didn’t put off elective surgeries, but had chosen not to.
Maltby
Thanked Mr Glover for the motion, wants to see the matter settled.
She said: “”I have just as many reasons to vote for this motion as I do to vote against and my settled position has been very difficult to reach. The fact remains, he is not my first choice. However, as my favorite leader is not named within this motion as a credible alternative. What choice do I really have as a response for member of this House?”
“I do believe this motion has hurt you, but guess what, Chief, it’s hurt us all. However you now have power to heal the wounds opened up during this past year, your ministers today have showed great loyalty to you.”
Thomas
“Many have even less confidence in us than they did a year ago”.
Mr Thomas said he wanted to busy “myths” such as people saying that the debate should not be happening.
He said Mr Glover was right to bring the motion and to let members debate what has become a public point of speculation.
Denied that there would be any issue of the government becoming stagnant as the standing orders set out what happens, said members have “disrespected” the house.
He said: “Mr Glover has not moved for a regime change. Rather, he has had the courage to have brought for debate in the House of keys, something so many of those we represent have been saying and arguing for for a long time. This motion is about having a clearer view of who is behind what particular policies and actions to help those we represent the island plan.”
However, he said that while his support of Mr Cannan has changed, it could change again.
He added: “Mr. Cannan formed yet another government which used its first 100 days to put together a disappointing Island Plan, rather than taking clear initial steps as agreed with the electorate, as we needed then and we will need in the future.”
Mr Thomas has also criticised the government’s handling of key issues such as housing, the Crogga gas field and control of public finances.
Dr Allinson
Said some members are young and lack experience.
Said Mr Cannan has shown a greater commitment to transparency and openness to dialogue than any other he’s known.
Denied his hands are tied.
Said that members need to reflect people’s needs now, not in 2026..
He said the debate has been about policy and not personalities, but the vote is about personality.
“I am voting against this motion, I am voting for stability and I am voting for our chief minister”.
Corlett
Doesn’t support the motion and says the decision has to be about “policies, not the person”.
Mrs Corlett said that the motion’s consequences would be “far reaching” and would “actually set us back”.
She added: “We will get nothing done if we can’t pull together and it won’t matter who is in the hot seat.”
Faragher
Thanked Mr Glover for his motion and said it was not a “headline grabber”.
The Manx Labour Party leader made clear she respects the Chief Minister, but is politically opposed to his government.
She added that changing the Chief Minister will not the “panacea” some think it could be.
Sadly the audio dropped out, we will see to rectify this later today.
Christian
Spoke to Chief Minister before today to outline her concerns and says she has tried to contribute to debate by bring motions and questions.
She added that she respects Mr Cannan and said there are “no magical unicorns in this chamber”, before setting out critical points she wants him to take on board.
Ms Christian asked Mr Cannan not to break the triple lock, not to increase taxes, to build more social housing and actually define an affordable home, cut dental waiting lists and adding more GPs, improvement connectivity, a plan for genuine cost efficiencies, fixing the budget process and asking him to communicate funding gaps across the island plan.
She said: “Honesty with the public over what we can realistically afford is essential for fostering trust.”
Hooper
Said he would not support a motion of no confidence in the Council of Ministers as there is good work going on across government.
The Lib Vannin leader has outlined his difference with Mr Cannan politically rather than personally.
He said that the Chief Minister “would state that the best way to achieve economic growth is to shrink the state and pull back from services and reduce government expenditure as essentially the difference falls down to how you perceive risk and how you perceive expenditure in education, or in health or rehire, whatever it may be as spending or as an investment”.
And added: “I can quite confidently say people really don’t feel the better off now than they were 10 years ago. If you feel different. You feel we’re better off now than we were by all means vote to continue to support that is being espoused that has been quite clearly articulated.”
Mr Hooper also outlined several issues at Manx Care which he said was due to the way Mr Cannan runs his administration.
He also called for members to separate Mr Cannan from the Council of Minister, saying he does not keep to his plans and fails to listen to others.
“I do think having this debate and vote is very helpful. Very helpful, because it cuts through the noise, it cuts through what people say, and lets us be judged on our actions, not just on our forces us to cast a vote, and our votes are not secret, so we can be held accountable by our constituents.”
Moorhouse
Won’t be supporting it.
“I would ask Mr Cannan and the Council of Ministers, to pause and reflect on many of the current challenges we should face by significant the easiest way to reset the group think is to visit local businesses and to hear the challenges face and then act.”
While acknowledging he won’t be supporting the motion, Mr Moorhouse did lay out several failings of the government, saying it is “remote” and has failed to fix many issues.
Peters
Very simple, wants mutual agreement not mutiny, won’t be supporting it.
Johnston
Another minister goes into bat, says he is “dismayed” that the motion has been brought.
He said that it is “frankly an irresponsible move at a time of great challenge for our islands as we navigate macro and geopolitical forces that have buffeted us for several years now”.
The MHK, who before the 2021 election committed not to being a minister before asked to do so by Mr Cannan, added: “What are the alternative plans? Where are the alternative plans? What lobbying has the Honorable Member carried out? Have I missed something? Where has he been? It seems to me, Mr. Speaker, at times of pressure and difficulty, you can either stand up and be counted, or stand back and gripe.”
He also criticised the impact Mr Glover’s motion has on on the people working across government.
Mr Johnston also said he would resign if the motion succeeds.
Dr Haywood
he Rushen MHK began by largely focussing on Mr Cannan’s spat with Lawrie Hooper.
She said: “I was taken aback by the unstatesmen like language that we witnessed in the other place [Tynwald] and I was taken aback by the timing because it did come after a night where there should have been some ability to reflect and recover.
“What we witnessed seems to me, lack of self control, lack of restraint and personally targeting Mr. Hooper, and that is not the fitting of our head of government.”
However, as the issue is being viewed by some as a no-confidence motion she has reservations.
Dr Haywood said: “We are three years into this administration and voting no confidence in the chief minister, who was a man of honour, I am sure, would resign if he lost this vote today, and that would depose ministers, just seems to me like a step too far.
“We know those ministers are tackling some really important topics and making progress on some things that have been stalled for years. It would, as Mr. Ashford has commented, throw us into an election process selection of new ministers, it would delay us for weeks before those new ministers get short all members, built the course of this administration would be lost.”
Despite not supporting Mr Cannan as chief minister, Dr Haywood said she is “forced” to do so today given that not doing so would create additional issues.
Ashford
Made clear he’s not supporting the motion, said the majority of his constituents didn’t want a change.
The Douglas North MHK said that the motion is “helpful” as the rumours of a no confidence motion can cause instability and this will move things on.
He said: “This is one of those occasions where we need to be honest with ourselves, and it’s hard for some home truths. If anyone thinks changing the Chief Minister will change everything, then they are completely deluded as far as I’m concerned, and don’t understand how our system of government actually works.”
Mr Ashford outlined the actual powers of the chief minister and pointed out the other ministers can outvote the chief and block anything they set out.
He also criticised the lack of certainty of what will happen and said the people are “sick and tired of us fighting amongst ourselves”.
“I wish Mr Thomas and anyone else who may come forward well as personally, I think you have to be mad to want the job.”
He finished by saying changing the government will not change anything.
Smith
The Garff MHK said it is with “disappointment and deep concern that I rise today” before outlining the difficulties the world has faced in recent years including the 2008 financial crisis and the Covid-19 pandemic, saying “our island and it’s people did not escape”.
“The invasion of Ukraine began at dawn on 24 February 2022 it was described as the biggest attack on a European country in the first full scale ever war in Europe since the Second World War, sadly and with great regret, that conflict continues today.
“Also additional inflationary pressures and the cost of living emergency during this period have done nothing to assist matters, although we rightly, proudly and fiercely defend our islands independence as a nation, we are not aloof from international events which happen around us. ]
“We do not live in isolation and we are most accept that we are not immune to outside influences which will continually pose threats and challenges to our local economy and the people of our island.”
He added: “We continually to have extremely urgent, important and complex issues to address, and I believe it is now time to put personalities to one side, pull together and work for the best interests of our island and its people.”
Wannenburgh
Douglas North MHK began by saying he did not support Mr Cannan but will support any Chief Minister who he belies is doing the right thing.
While he has issues with the current administration, he says the no confidence motion is a “shot in the dark”.
He said: “I understand the frustrations by the mover, I share many a political view with him, but it would appear not all in my determination. It is my determination that this motion advocates regime change for the sake of regime change.
“A regime change without a plan of what is to come next cannot be a serious proposal, it is not even half baked, it is absent, it is gone, it doesn’t exist.
“As I have said, the stakes are far too high to take such a cavalier approach, it is irresponsible, almost to the point of being unethical, when the problems that we face are so pressing.”
Mr Wannenburgh added that if the motion succeeds, those who support it will be required to face the consequences.
Poole-Wilson
The Home Affairs Minister told members: “The motion before us, although naming the Chief Minister is in effect a motion of confidence in the Council of Ministers and government.”
She said: “It matters how we engage as a national parliament, we must focus on the national interest, our stability and our ability to discuss and address the political issues we face in an informed and considered way.
“I am unclear as to how the motion before us helps us move forward to tackle the issues facing the island. Honourable members, we will not agree about everything, and it would be unhealthy if we did.
“Our strength is how we can come together to debate and resolve matters in the interests of the island and so I have real concerns that the motion before us, not only does not promote the active consideration and participation we as national representatives should engage in, but actually runs the risk of destabilising and paralysing the work that is going on.”
Mrs Poole-Wilson said she will resign if the House votes to oust Mr Cannan.
Have a sneaking suspicion she isn’t going to support the motion.
Callister
Onchan MHK Rob Callister has criticised the conduct of the Chief Minister and the personal hurt he felt after his own sacking following his short spell as health minister.
He added that it is “truly disheartening” for the Keys to be debating the motion.
“I have more reason than most in this house to press the green button at the end of this debate here today, especially given the anguish and the hurt that the Chief Minister inflicted upon my family and my friends and myself personally during 2022 and 2023.
“I have longed for just one opportunity, like the one being presented today, to be able to remove the current chief minister from office.”
He also criticised the ability of the government to manage its own affairs.
However, citing conflict in the Middle East, economic uncertainty and political instability, he has indicated he will vote against the motion.
He said that the “motion on the order paper here today isn’t right or justified” and accused Mr Glover of grandstanding.
Mr Callister said: “If Mr Glover’s intention was to grab a quick media headline? Well, he has certainly succeeded in that over the past week. However, he must also recognise that our actions in this Chamber have ramifications that extend far beyond our corridors of this parliament or the corridors of this parliament.”
He added that “strong leadership” is needed and said he supported Mr Cannan in 2021 and said he has the best interest of the island in mind and will not be supporting the motion.
Glover
Opening, Mr Glover said it has “not been the healthiest past week, with sleepless nights and increased anxiety”.
He added: “However, someone had to have the courage of their convictions and bring this motion forward.
“It’s been discussed for well over a year on the back benchers, and there’s an ever increasing public dissatisfaction with the direction of travel of this administration. We have been drowning in consultations rather than actions.”
The Arbory, Castletown and Malew MHK told his fellow members: “The problem, to me, is in the centre of government, hence the framing of this motion, the lack of political leadership on the suicide prevention strategy being just one example of this.”
Mr Glover outlined several failings, as he sees it, for the government, criticised Mr Cannan’s conduct in the fallout of the Lawrie Hooper resignation, said the Council of Minister was like a “game of musical chairs” and said there is “now too much government behind closed doors, and that needs to change”.
He concluded: “Some members are waiting to see how the current Chief Minister reacts to this motion today before voting the tone, especially if it’s unsuccessful, I hope we get a different style, more conciliatory, less cutthroat, and more inclusive, and I will support that.
“It’s time to show backbone to represent your constituents and the people of this wonderful island make the change so sorely needed.”
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