A Liberal Vannin MHK is channelling The Terminator in her fight to streamline government staffing costs.

Julie Edge’s bid for a full government staffing review was blocked by Tynwald two weeks ago. But, just like Arnold Schwarzenegger, she said: ’I’ll be back.’

She will return to Tynwald later in the year with a revised version of the motion, following criticism that last month’s wording - that called for a ’full review of employment costs in government departments, statutory boards and offices’ - was not precise enough.

’To be honest, I have already spoken to the Chief Minister and the Treasury Minister and they have indicated they would support it if I say it is a management structure review,’ Mrs Edge said.

In Tynwald, she claimed some senior civil servants were earning as much as £20,000 more than the equivalent officers in the UK,

Her new proposal could cover government workers at executive officer level and above, she said.

Cabinet Office member David Ashford was critical of Mrs Edge’s motion during the Tynwald debate, calling the wording too vague and saying it was a much more complicated issue than she portrayed.

Mrs Edge said she expected him to defend the situation as it was part of his role, but she added that her concerns were based on a career working within the public sector

’I have got 39 years’ experience to his six months,’ she said. Her motion was defeated only narrowly: 14-10 in the Keys and 4-3 in Legislative Council.