Three new ministers announced in cabinet shake-up

Michelle Haywood, David Ashford and Claire Christian have new ministerial posts

A major reshuffle of the Isle of Man government’s cabinet, which includes Claire Christian MHK being appointed health minister, has been announced.

The changes follow the resignation of Lawrie Hooper’s resignation from the health role, following a dispute over cuts to address Manx Care’s £16.8m deficit.

Michelle Haywood MHK has become the new infrastructure minister, with her predecessor Tim Crookall moving to a ministerial role "without portfolio".

David Ashford MHK, who left the Council of Ministers in the wake of the Rosalind Ranson tribunal in 2022, returns as Cabinet Office Minister, replacing Kate Lord-Brennan.

Ashford has also retained his recently-appointed role as political member for the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).

Current Home Affairs Minister and Deputy Chief Minister Jane Poole-Wilson will join him in the DHSC as a political member.

Chief Minister Alfred Cannan said he hoped that the “strengthened team" at the department would be able to "provide clear political leadership and direction to overcome the challenges facing our health and care system”.

He acknowledged that making two ministers the political members of another department was an “unusual move”, but said it was needed to give the health minister sufficient “political resources”.

'Collaborative approach'

Incoming minister Christian said that her main priority over the coming months would be to ensure that the healthcare body’s operating plan was "achievable within the allocated financial framework”.

She added that she would "take a collaborative approach to realigning the budget with the mandate to Manx Care".

As part of the reshuffle Rob Callister MHK has been appointed chairman of the Public Services Commission and Vice Chairman of the Public Sector Pensions Authority in addition to joining the Cabinet Office as a political member.

Those posts were previously held by Lord-Brennan, who said she had stepped down from the Council of Minister to "focus much more on constituency matters".

Former health minister Hooper resigned after a dispute over cuts with Cannan

In his new role as minister without a portfolio, the government said Crookall would “focus initially on driving the efficiencies savings programme, as well as supporting the chief minister on external relations and oversight of the Island Plan”.

Cannan said: “There remains much work to do in delivering on our mission to build a secure, vibrant and sustainable future for the Isle of Man.

“I believe these new appointments will reinvigorate the Council of Ministers as we continue to focus on delivering our Island Plan," he added.