A new low for Manx politics?
After three long drawn out days, which at times seemed a lot longer, the February sitting of Tynwald has finally drawn to a close.
The President of Tynwald, Noel Cringle closed proceedings by saying how proud he was of his colleagues’ performance during the, sometimes, acrimonious debates; but despite this they still managed to get through the business and move on.
Perhaps if he had observed proceedings as an ‘outsider’ his comments may have been less rose tinted and, therefore, somewhat different.
The Manx Herald is not alone among longstanding political observers and commentators in believing the sitting managed to reach a new low point in the modern history of Tynwald.
The tenor of the sitting was set by the contributions to the budget debate with the regurgitated rhetoric of the Treasury Minister Allan Bell - which for all its convincing sound bites has never produced any measurable effects - as predictable as ever.
Government spending continued to grow substantially throughout his term as Treasury Minister - even when he knew well it was not sensible or sustainable - and now it has come to haunt us all.
Had he actually got a grip on expenditure in the last 5 years, rather than just pontificate about the need to get a grip, then his job would have been a darn sight easier when it came to this year’s budget; and the Island would have been better prepared to meet today’s financial challenges.
However, having abrogated his responsibility in previous budgets to better prepare the IOM for less affluent times, Mr Bell again ducked out from doing what is really needed at this time and firmly tighten the purse strings.
But was it any surprise when our great leader, and his master, Tony Brown continues to defiantly cling to his unsustainable policy of protecting ‘big government’; and big government requires big expenditure.
Whilst as disappointing as the budget was it was just the hors d’oeuvre for the farce that followed on Wednesday, and what brought Manx politics to a new low.
The debate on the restructuring of government, a seven hour war of attrition, commenced with an unseemly and thoroughly embarrassing row as to whether the debate should proceed.
As Onchan MHK, Peter Karran, suggested, had he been the Member attempting to make things up on the hoof he wouldn’t have been given the time of day let alone on the indulgence of the President.
Speaker, Steve Rodan was also right to say the Chief Minister, and the Council of Ministers, was treating the Court, effectively, with contempt for not withdrawing the original report and submitting an amended version - to reflect the Chief Minister’s U-turn over the position of agriculture in the reshuffle.
The undignified row slipped further into farce when ham-fisted attempts by other Ministers, at the behest of the Chief Minister, to introduce amendments to the motion to try to correct the position were called into question by the President.
Even the Attorney General had to be drawn into the shambles, in order to confirm the original amendment would be ultra vires, but undeterred the President allowed a revised version to be put before the Court.
A later proposed amendment went down the same route; so it was no wonder when the ‘elder statesmen’ of the Court, David Cannan and Eddie Lowey, remarked they had never witnessed anything like it before.
Attempts to get the debate adjourned to next month failed and on it went, hour after interminable hour, with the will to live of many of the spectators in the public gallery growing weaker by the minute.
The valiant attempt by the ‘super six’ - to have the debate over reorganization opened up to public consultation - in the end was futile; although it came so, so close to succeeding. Oh how we wish Brenda Cannell could have attended in the hour of need!
Despite what the Chief Minister may think - and a few others may try to perpetuate - he has no true mandate for his reorganization.
His policy of ‘big government’ - i.e. no change to the scope of government - has never been put before the public; and until the public gets the opportunity to vote directly for a Chief Minister none can claim to have a proper mandate.
So by April 1st, All Fools’ Day, we are expected to believe the IOM will have a ‘new’, thoroughly efficient government structure ready to tackle the drive for economic growth.
Dream on Tony, the Manx Herald will be amazed if even the Departments that remain substantially the same will be ready and prepared.
The final session on Thursday also provided - during the debate on David Cannan’s motion regarding the loss of the Reciprocal Health Agreement (RHA) with the UK - further evidence of how sections of our Parliament have been reduced to such a pitiful state.
The Speaker comprehensively laid out how our Government has let their own people down over this affair; and has effectively left it to individual residents, and a number of UK politicians, to fight our corner.
Only now, in the face of growing public anger and disgust is the Health Minister belatedly, and somewhat half heartedly, making an apparent attempt to introduce a ‘safety net’ for the more vulnerable members of our society. It would seem though, the Government is still of the opinion ‘self insurance’ is the ‘only show in town’, when they should be out lobbying hard for a new RHA.
As it was pointed out, by more than one Member, the public will remember the actions, or more correctly inactions, of the Government in 18 months time when it comes to casting their votes in the general election; and the Manx Herald for one will not let them forget.
As with the structure of government debate, the debate was interspersed with attempts at amendment to the motion and, likewise with the former debate, it is uncertain whether Members really knew in the end what they were voting for or why.
And so the February sitting of Tynwald ended, not on a high but in a muddle and is it surprising that commentators are not only labelling the Tony Brown government as the worst in living memory but this parliament as the worst too.