Members of the House of Keys have already gone through the first stage of debate on the Brexit Bill, even though it was only been printed a matter of days before.

The Bill was initially down for a formal introduction - first reading - at Tuesday’s sitting. That would have had the effect of putting the bill and its contents in the public arena, but with no actual debate at that stage.

However, Chief Minister Howard Quayle successfully sought permission to suspend procedures and have the second reading - when the principle of a bill is debated - moved on the same day.

The Manx Independent understands that members were warned of this plan last week, before the House of Keys agenda was published. However Mr Quayle’s motion to suspend standing orders was not included on the order paper, meaning there was no formal advance notice of such a move given to the general public.

The government has sought to suspend standing orders to speed up the legislative process in the past. However, when Policy and Reform Minister Chris Thomas in February moved for the first and second readings of the Data Protection Bill to take place at the same sitting, the motion to suspend standing orders was included on the agenda, so people knew in advance.

It is understood members received a digital version of the draft legislation towards the end of September, while a print version was circulated last week.

With the clauses stage of the bill due to be considered a week on Tuesday, under normal procedures, MHKs would be expected to have submitted any amendments by next Monday - adding to the sense of being rushed that caused some to express concern.

The content of the bill also differs from what was put out for consultation earlier this year, including some of the broader powers for the Council of Ministers that the bill now contains.

Mr Quayle insisted time was of the essence and that without taking the second reading this week, the bill would not complete its passage through both the Keys and Legislative Council until mid-to-late January.

Any LegCo amendments would push that back to February.

’Although it might be theoretically possible to achieve royal assent and get the secondary legislation to Tynwald before exit day under this scenario, it would leave absolutely no room for manoeuvre,’ he argued.

There is an option for the branches to have an additional sitting on December 18, while Liberal Vannin leader Kate Beecroft argued that a better alternative to having the second reading this week would have been to arrange emergency sittings, if required, further down the line.

She said more time was needed to consider the Bill at this point.

This led to the now weekly exchange of barbs between the former health minister and the man who forced her out.

Mr Quayle said that as she was not a member of a government department, he was surprised she had not had time to attend a presentation on the Bill, which members had had for ’several weeks’.

Mrs Beecroft fired back: ’I expect better from the Chief Minister than snide remarks.’