In a night of high political drama, the electoral axe fell on three government Ministers.

And with another minister having already announced their departure from national politics, voters ensured that it will be all change - with half of the Council of Ministers having lost their jobs.

Whether that translates to a new direction for government remains to be seen.

First CoMin casualty of the night was DEFA Minister Clare Barber in Douglas East, who came fourth out of five candidates.

But before that, the election had claimed the scalps of three who had been ministers in the last administration, ex-Education Minister Julie Edge in Onchan, former Health Minister Lawrie Hooper in Ramsey and former DoI Minister Dr Michelle Haywood in Rushen.

There was better news for Health Minister Claire Christian who came second in Douglas South, Cabinet Office Minister David Ashford who topped the poll in Douglas North, Treasury Minister Chris Thomas who came second in Douglas Central and Home Affairs Minister Jane Poole Wilson who came first in Middle.

But the final declarations of the night saw two further big name departures with Enterprise Minister Tim Johnston coming fourth in a field of eight candidates and Education Minister Daphne Caine finishing sixth out of nine candidates.

One other CoMin member, DoI Minister Tim Crookall, had not sought re-election in Glenfaba and Peel. Neither had former Cabinet Office Minister Kate Lord-Brennan in the same constituency.

Mrs Caine’s defeat was fundamentally down to one issue - the proposed Mooir Vannin offshore windfarm.

The two successful candidates Richard Henthorn and Vicki Hewison had both campaigned on a platform of opposition to the windfarm project.

But CoMin members had been advised not to make public announcements of support or opposition to Mooir Vannin to avoid a conflict when it came to the decision being made whether or not to grant Ørsted a licence.

Mrs Caine said: ‘It’s rare to have a single issue dominate a general election.

‘On the doorsteps there was a lot of opposition to the windfarm and concern at my decision not to pledge to stop the Mooir Vannin proposal. I articulated in my manifesto my firm belief that we should not undermine the legal process on the live application, and await the recommendation of the examining body.

‘However, the Garff vote was emphatic and I do feel it was mainly this issue which influenced voters, although there is a significant number of Onchan residents who refuse to vote in Garff constituency.’

She added: ‘I’m sorry to bow out after 10 years and wish all those elected the very best in the challenging five years ahead.’

Speaking before she lost her seat, Dr Haywood clearly knew the writing was on the wall.

She said: ‘I think you have to be some sort of insane to enjoy the election process - It’s like the worst job interview you ever have to do.’

Dr Haywood criticised some election candidates who had played on unfounded fears over immigration. ‘It’s an imported narrative from the UK that doesn’t reflect the reality in the Isle of Man,’ she said.

She acknowledged that her role in the controversial, and now abandoned, island-wide roll out of 20mph zones had affected her re-election prospects.

‘If our democratically elected parliament Tynwald had said do this thing than actually you should do that thing,’ she said. ‘It’s not for ministers to turn round and say “no, I’m not”.

‘You occasionally get people who say that was the defence of people in Nazi death camps saying “I was just following orders”. I’m not following orders - I’m following the democratically elected will of Tynwald which should be the highest authority in the land.’