With Chief Minister Howard Quayle set to step down from the role in autumn, we asked people what we thought of his track record and who or what sort of politician they would like to see step into his shoes.

Glenda Bukes, 67, Douglas, who worked with Mr Quayle when he was at the Department of Health and Social Care, said she was disappointed he was stepping down, describing him as ’the nicest, most charming man I’ve ever come across’.

She added that she was worried about who would take his place, ’because I think the decisions he’s made have been the correct decisions, especially with regards to Covid’.

Her husband Andy said he thought Mr Quayle had handled the briefings well, and also mentioned that Health Minister David Ashford had been very responsive to their emails when they were having difficulties with the border and isolation process travelling through England.

Glenda suggested that ’maybe he should step in’ and take on the Chief Minister role.

’I think they’ve kept a lot of calm within people, and you need that calm,’ she added.

Talking about the media briefings, Andy said: ’They never got flustered. They always came up with answers for you [journalists].’

Roy Dixon, 68, Douglas, told us: ’I’m sorry to see him gone because I think he was absolutely brilliant.

’He may have got one or two things slightly wrong but no, I think overall he’s been brilliant.’

Asked if he was worried about his successor facing a similarly difficult situation, he said: ’I would like to think the Covid pandemic is over.

’It’s endemic, they’re saying we’ve got to live with it so let’s get everybody vaccinated twice and take it from there.’

Speaking about people that criticised Mr Quayle, he said: ’I believe some of the people who said what they said about the electorate, calling them out for doing badly [during the pandemic] - I don’t think they thought it out.

’I saw no reason for some of the things that were said about him, because he just did well. Very, very well.’

Dick Best, 72, Port St Mary, told us: ’I think he’s done a wonderful job, and if anybody wants to criticise him, tell them to get on the podium and do it themselves.

’And the health minister too.

Speaking further about Mr Quayle at the briefings, he said: ’I think he’s as accurate if not better than Boris Johnson - mind you that’s not very hard.

Asked what he would look for in a future Chief Minister, he said: ’We need someone who’s going to lead.

’I just think that you need somebody who can understand the island, and go in that direction.

Asked if he saw any viable candidates, he also said the Health Minister, because he thinks he has done a good job in that role.

When we asked Diana Cilliers, 49, Douglas, about Mr Quayle’s performance, she said: ’With regards to how other countries have handled the pandemic - which was very difficult, [there were] very many unknowns, variables that were complicated - I think in comparison to everyone else they’ve done a very good job.’

Stuart Cilliers, 58, said he was happy with the briefings, but added: ’We don’t generally follow much Manx politics, we look more internationally in these strange times.

’But we love the Isle of Man, so it makes sense to become more involved in the politics which over time probably we will be.’