A small group of 6 MHK’s, comprising the new Members elected in the 2006 House of Keys general election, have produced their own response to the independent report in to the scope and structure of government; saying the Chief Minister’s, and his Ministers’, response does not go far enough.

Furthermore they are concerned at the short time being given to consider the ‘Executive’s’ response and the lack of consultation with key stakeholders; namely other members of parliament and, most importantly, the public.

Along with their 27 page response the ‘group’ is tabling an amendment to the motion on next week’s Tynwald Order paper that seeks to postpone consideration of COMIN’s document for several months to allow time for public consultation.

The text of the group’s press release is reproduced below:

The authors of an alternative report on the Scope and Structure of Government are encouraging Council of Ministers to allow meaningful consultation and consideration of other options.
The Group is putting forward an amendment to the Government motion which receives the reports and requires consultation in accordance with the Government Code of Practice, reporting back by July.
“This is too big an issue to be rushed through in two weeks without considering the implications,” said a spokesperson for the group.
The Group criticise the Council of Ministers for not giving thought to the scope of government in their report, just the structure.
Putting forward their alternative proposals, they state “This was a review into the Scope and Structure of Government. Doing one without the other is wasting an opportunity. In these cash strapped times, it would be wrong not to stop and evaluate the size and scope of Government. Once you have worked out what Government should do, you can then work out what shape it should take.”
It is appreciated that this will cause uncertainty amongst a number of public sector workers, but it is for that reason that thorough consultation has to be considered.
The proposals see the abolition of a Government Department, expressions of interest being requested for a number of areas of Government operations, an inquiry into the scope of local government, and a new departmental structure.
“We believe this offers a viable alternative to the Council of Ministers plans, but are keen to engage with the public, unions, and other interested parties before moving forward with any proposals.”
It is signed by: J. Watterson MHK; T. Crookall MHK; G. Cregeen MHK; G. Corkish MHK; D. Quirk MHK; B. Malarkey MHK.

The Manx Herald fully supports the group and their amendment as the proposals prepared by the Chief Minister and his colleagues are COMIN’s equivalent of the ‘Emperor’s new clothes’ – an empty proposal.

Looking at the proposed new structure, one has to wonder if they arrived at by playing a popular party game: the one where each player in turn writes a word on a piece of paper folds it over so the next person can not see what is written and passes it on to the next person to write a word. Once everybody has had their turn you unfold the paper and read out what is written.

Hilarious at parties, how they must have hooted when they read the one out for the Department of Community, Culture and Leisure; but clearly not the way to arrange a government structure.

A cynic may think Mr Brown has deliberately come up with a proposal he knows Tynwald will not accept so he can toss the issue of reform back into the long grass. He will then be able to say we tried but it wasn’t wanted - so we will leave it for a future government to deal with after the election. This may be convenient ruse for a lame government attempting to seek re-election in just over a year’s time; but it is not what is needed by an Island facing some of the most difficult problems for the last 30 years.

Perhaps it’s time for a ‘confidence vote’ in Tynwald.