The Liberal Vannin Party (LVP) has issued another press release highly critical of the response of the Manx Government to the loss of the reciprocal health agreement with the UK, which was confirmed at meeting with UK representatives in London on Tuesday (19^th Jan 10).

In the release they say it is disappointing but not surprising that Chief Minister, Tony Brown, and Health Minister, Eddie Teare achieved nothing by their visit to London to meet with UK Health Secretary, Andy Burnham to discuss the cessation of the Reciprocal Health Agreement on 31 March this year. 

They go on to say that during the additional year that the government was given to find a solution, the Health Minister has not kept the members Tynwald informed of progress in negotiations, and so we now know why. 

They suggest it is Minister Teare’s singular lack of action which has led to this situation where some of the peoples of the island are in danger of being stranded here because they can't get insurance to visit family in the UK.  In LVP’s opinion the Manx Government has done nothing and would have continued to do nothing but for the backlash of public and media opinion.

LVP appreciated that no-one can force the UK government to continue with an agreement that they no longer wish to have but what is inexplicable is why this government have not explored every avenue to ensure that an alternative solution is found prior to 1 April.

They point out after months of inaction by Government Ministers, and their highly paid advisors, Liberal Vannin’s unpaid researchers have negotiated an Island wide insurance scheme that will provide genuine health cover for everyone, regardless of age or pre existing medical conditions, at a cost of less than £2.00 per person per trip.  This will also cover repatriation which is not covered under the present Agreement.

Leader Peter Karran said: “I have tried before to get this debated in the House of Keys but have been unable to find a Seconder. I shall be raising this matter again and sincerely hope that it will receive support this time.  There is no other Plan B and time is running out.  While the Council of Ministers has decided to do nothing, our membership has been working behind the scenes and produced a result. This is one of the strengths of Party Politics, a whole team working together for the common good rather than a series of individuals looking over their shoulders in case they get the sack!”

The Manx Herald agrees with Mr Karran, and would add that the current Health Minister and his COMIN colleagues have shown a woeful lack of leadership throughout this sorry saga; and have even managed to reach a new level of ineptitude beyond that which is normally expected.

The decision to ‘dump’ responsibility for arranging insurance to the citizens it is supposed to represent, and look out for, is yet another stab in the back of the so called ‘prosperous and caring society’.

It seems to the Manx Herald the government is again putting two fingers up to certain sections of the community with their attitude of the prosperous will be able to look after themselves and we couldn’t care less about the rest.

MLC David Callister said in Tynwald yesterday the public will kick out the politicians who did nothing, or too little too late, to save the agreement or to put a fair and equitable replacement scheme in place - and the Manx Herald hopes the electorate will remember who they were in September 2011 and vote accordingly.