Chief Minister announces political appointments to Government departments

Chief Minister Chris Thomas has announced political appointments to Government departments, statutory boards and public bodies, with further roles still to be filled.

The appointments, announced on Friday afternoon, include members from across Tynwald and come a week after Mr Thomas formed his new Council of Ministers.

Mr Thomas, who also serves as Minister for the Cabinet Office, said the appointments had been made quickly following the formation of the Council of Ministers last Friday.

He said: ‘Since the formation of the Council of Ministers last Friday, we have moved quickly to make political appointments to key roles. I am grateful to Tynwald Members who have stepped forward and taken on these important responsibilities.

‘Further political appointments remain to be made, with an announcement to follow.’

Katryna Baptist, Mark Kemp and Juan McGuinness have been appointed to the Cabinet Office, while the Department for Enterprise will include Daniel Davison, Richard Henthorn, Vicki Hewison and Rob Mercer.

The appointments also see several members take on responsibilities across more than one department.

Mr Davison and Mrs Hewison have been appointed to both Enterprise and Education, Sport and Culture, alongside Kirstie Morphet, who joins the latter department.

At the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture, Paul Craine and Peter Shimmin have been appointed as political members.

The Department of Health and Social Care will include James Cochrane, Diane Kelsey, Mark Kemp, Peter Reid and Andy Saunders.

Kirstie Morphet and Peter Shimmin have been appointed to the Department of Home Affairs, while Stephen Broad, Richard Henthorn and Juan McGuinness will serve at the Department of Infrastructure.

At the Treasury, the political members are Damian Ciappelli, Gary Clueit and Kirrie Jenkins.

The appointments follow Mr Thomas’s announcement last Friday of his new Council of Ministers, which saw three newly elected MHKs take charge of key departments.

Robert Cowell became Enterprise Minister, Rachel Glover took over Environment, Food and Agriculture, and Michael Crowe was appointed Treasury Minister.

Jason Moorhouse became Infrastructure Minister, while Sarah Maltby took charge of Education, Sport and Culture. Mr Thomas also retained responsibility for the Cabinet Office, with Claire Christian continuing as Health and Social Care Minister and Jane Poole-Wilson remaining Minister for Justice and Home Affairs.

The latest announcement also sets out proposed political appointments to statutory boards and other public bodies.

Juan McGuinness has been appointed as a non-voting Tynwald member of the Communications and Utilities Regulatory Authority.

Peter Shimmin has been named chair of the Isle of Man Office of Fair Trading, with Paul Craine as vice-chair.

Katryna Baptist and Daniel Davison have been appointed chair and vice-chair respectively of the Isle of Man Post Office, while James Cochrane and Peter Reid will take the same roles at the Manx Utilities Authority.

Mr Thomas has been appointed chair of Culture Vannin, with Joney Faragher named as its second Tynwald member.

Diane Kelsey has been appointed chair of the Planning Committee.

The Government said appointments to the Communications and Utilities Regulatory Authority, Office of Fair Trading, Isle of Man Post Office, Manx Utilities Authority and Culture Vannin require Tynwald approval.

The announcement comes after Tynwald approved a motion calling on Mr Thomas to publish a Government Programme by the end of November.

The document is intended to set out the island’s key challenges and opportunities, a prioritised policy agenda, an action plan and a legislative programme. It is also expected to be reviewed annually, with updated versions presented to Tynwald for debate and approval each October.