The chief minister’s emphasis on Brexit was slammed by one MHK.

Chris Robertshaw (Douglas East) remarked that Tuesday’s debate was turning into a ’love-in’ of Mr Quayle’s Brexit policy.

He said he supported the overall approach to Brexit and recognised its importance, but added: ’What really worries me so much is that every time the chief minister starts talking about Brexit, he insists upon the phrase "this is the most important priority".’

Mr Robertshaw said he could not join in with that assertion.

’I have come to realise how deep our chief minister’s head is buried in the issue of Brexit,’ he said.

’The real challenge that we face is to deliver high quality services to our population with low taxation. That is the priority.’

He said not enough attention was being given to addressing economic pressures in the island.

’When you look at some of the pressures coming down the track and try to correlate them to the medium-term financial forecasts it all breaks down. The five-year financial forecast is little more than hopeful posturing, flowery words and wishful thinking.’

He said concerns that health and social care services were fundamentally under-funded had not been incorporated into forecasts.

No cognisance had been taken of demographic changes.

’It is time for the chief minister to come down from the Brexit issue and engage with the colossal challenges we face.’

Mr Robertshaw said Mr Quayle need to take control rather than leave it to his other ministers.

However, Mr Quayle countered that he had always recognised the domestic issues that have to be faced.

’It is not either/or, but both,’ he said.

’The key point is these are domestic challenges which we must address, we are addressing, but we can set our own direction on these ones.

’On the external issues, on Brexit, we cannot set the direction and therefore any problems facing the Isle of Man, we cannot say that is not going to happen. We have to react.’

He added: ’We are working hard to address the problems the island is facing and the Programme for Government is a step in the right direction.’

Health and Social Care Minister Kate Beecroft branded as ’insulting’ claims her department was not facing up to its financial challenges. She said the department was planning to give Tynwald an update on efficiency measures in July.

’We have said there is going to be no stone left unturned,’ she said. There was a ’huge focus’ on changing demographics, she added.