A backbench MHK is calling for a full inquiry into the way that the government handled the Covid crisis.

Bill Shimmins’s comments came in a week when the Quayle adminstration came under criticism for the way it responded to the ’Steam Packet outbreak’.

It was even accused of conducting a smear campaign against the ferry company.

’We certainly think we need a full independent public inquiry into the handling of this crisis,’ Mr Shimmins told Manx Radio.

’I think that will be called for at an upcoming sitting of Tynwald.

’Why do we need that?

’We all know how difficult this period has been.

’Many things have gone well, so we want to recognise that and celebrate it.

’But we also need to learn from the things that haven’t gone well.

’This [the handling of the Steam Packet cluster] is, unfortunately one of a number of examples where things haven’t gone well.

’We may well be facing this kind of emergency in the future so we must have an independent inquiry.’

A report on the Steam Packet cluster, carried out by Stephen Hind, the director of the Treasury’s audit advisory division, was published last week.

It highlighted poor communication and confused responsibilities, which led to the outbreak and subsequent lockdown in March.

Mr Shimmins suggested that the risk from the travelling by ferry was ’blindingly obvious’ for the beginning of the pandemic.

’If you look back at the questions that were asked in the House of Keys and Tynwald highlighting this risk and imploring the Chief Minister and others to take action, they were rejected.

’Chris Robertshaw asked the Chief Minister if he would get the Steam Packet crew vaccinated. The Chief Minister responded by saying the people who were stacking shelves in Marks & Spencer were at a higher risk.

’That, unfortunately, was proved to be entirely wrong. That’s an error of judgement.’

He suggested that the Cabinet Office had ’continued diversion of responsibility’ and blamed the Steam Packet.

’The Cabinet Office has responsibility for managing this risk and managing it. It should not be swept under the carpet.’

Tynwald’s public accounts committee has already been weighing up a number of pandemic-related issues, including those around genomic testing.