Another MHK is calling for a better gender balance in the next Council of Ministers.

For the second half of the Howard Quayle administration, CoMin was made up entirely of men.

Douglas East MHK Clare Barber, who is the latest to rule themselves out of standing for chief minister, said she believed ’better gender representation in the Keys and CoMin will be a positive thing.’

That echoes the thoughts of Garff MHK Daphne Caine, who last week made a call for a ’more gender balanced’ Council of Ministers.

Although there has been private lobbying of some female MHKs to put their names forward for chief minister this time, so far none have done so.

The Examiner understands that some of those approached believe that standing for the next chief minister after this one is a more realistic prospect.

experience

One hindrance might be that, although 10 out of the 24 MHKs are women, none has any ministerial experience and several are new to the House of Keys.

However, Mrs Barber said: ’I do not think ministerial experience is necessarily essential for a chief minister, although I am sure it is beneficial.’

She added that, despite four ministers losing their seats in last month’s general election, a cabinet job was not necessarily a poisoned chalice, ’although I recognise that the profile that a ministerial role can give can be both a blessing and a curse especially in a volatile international climate as we currently see.’

Mrs Barber also rejected the suggestion that a narrowing in the pay gap between ministers and backbenchers would have an impact.

’I do not believe anyone goes into this job for anything other than to make our island a better place with a more secure and sustainable future, and the decision to take on a role is based on the value you can bring to it,’ she said.

On her own position, she added: ’I would be willing to take on a ministerial position, if it was in an area I felt I could add value to, working with a team that I felt I could effectively contribute to.’

The deadline for nominations to be the next chief minister is today (Tuesday), with the House of Keys due to vote on candidates next Tuesday.

So far, only Education Minister Dr Alex Allinson has publicly declared his intention, although Treasury Minister Alfred Cannan is widely expected to put his name in the hat.

The only other surviving minister from last term - Health Minister David Ashford - has ruled himself out.

Douglas Central MHK Chris Thomas, the former policy and reform minister sacked by Howard Quayle, remains a possibility, especially if the other two cannot be separated and there is even the possibility that horse-trading behind closed doors might lead to only one candidate and a ’coronation’ - although that would be unpopular with the public, who have no direct say who the next chief minister will be.

Along with Mr Ashford and Mrs Barber, Mrs Caine and Jane Poole-Wilson have ruled themselves out as a possible chief minister.

Despite being new to the Keys, Mrs Poole-Wilson was touted previously as an outside possibility given her profile as an MLC and her performances as equality champion and on the public accounts committee, but she confirmed she had no plans.

However, she confirmed she would consider a ministerial position if offered. Given her professional background as a lawyer and experience as chairman of the committee on constitutional and legal affairs and justice - coupled with the fact that Justice and Home Affairs Minister Graham Cregeen lost his seat in the election - she may have an eye on that vacancy.