Outgoing chief minister keen to 'fulfil' election commitments

Cannan replaced by Chris Thomas in job top

The Isle of Man’s former chief minister says he wants to make sure he fulfils the commitments he made in his election manifesto.

Alfred Cannan has been replaced in the top job by Douglas Central MHK Chris Thomas.

Mr Thomas, who formally served as Mr Cannan's treasury minister, won the support of the House of Keys this morning (13 October).

He secured 16 votes in the first round of voting where MHKs identified their preferred candidate.

Mr Cannan didn’t vote.

Mr Thomas then received 22 out of the 24 votes in the confirmation vote shortly afterwards - this time Mr Cannan did vote for him.

'Fulfil commitments'

After the election was complete Mr Cannan took to Facebook to thank constituents for their support over the last 10 years when he was both treasury and chief minister.

He wrote: “It’s been a busy couple of weeks since the election but now a house move has been completed, and the new CM appointed, it seems an appropriate time to acknowledge and thank constituents in Ayre and Michael for once again supporting me as a Member of the House of Keys.

“I now want to fulfil commitments that I have made in my manifesto and to make sure that I am delivering as best as possible to improve the constituency and ensure that the Island continues to offer us all a secure home for the future.”

'Phenomenal'

Arbory, Castletown and Malew MHK Kirrie Jenkins, a newcomer to the House of Keys, received six votes in the first round of voting.

These, along with her own vote, were from fellow political newcomers: Katryna Baptist, Stephen Broad, Michael Crowe, Richard Henthorn and Vicki Hewison.

In the second confirmation vote Mrs Jenkins received two votes - her own and Mr Broad’s.

Onchan MHK Rob Callister, who himself tried to gain enough support for his own chief minister bid before withdrawing, described Mrs Jenkins' campaign as ‘phenomenal’.

In a post on Facebook he wrote: “For someone who had only walked through the doors of the House of Keys on 25 September, to then put herself forward for the Island's highest political office was a remarkable achievement.”

He said both candidates ran ‘positive and impressive’ campaigns adding: “While there is perhaps a slight sense of sadness that I was not part of the contest, I genuinely believe we have elected the right chief minister to take our Island forward.”