Chief Minister Howard Quayle has apologised for wrongly accusing adversary Kate Beecroft of not attending a crucial meeting.

But he did not make a direct apology to the Liberal Vannin leader herself.

Mr Quayle made the accusation last week during debate on the Brexit bill, when Liberal Vannin leader Mrs Beecroft criticised the decision to take two readings of the Bill at one sitting.

The chief minister accused Mrs Beecroft of not attending a presentation of the bill and implied Mrs Beecroft had more time to attend than most as she ’has no department work’. She has remained on the backbenches since Mr Quayle forced her out as health minister.

Mrs Beecroft, who criticised the ’snide remarks’, later produced evidence to prove she was at the briefing and Mr Quayle wrote to MHKs to correct his mistake.

At the House of Keys this week, Mr Quayle said: ’I would like to take this opportunity again to apologise for the comments that I made in error regarding Mrs Beecroft’s attendance at the EU Trade Bill briefing.’

Mrs Beecroft was not entirely satisfied.

She thanked Mr Quayle for acknowledging his mistake and apologising ’to the House’ but added: ’I am slightly disappointed that I did not receive a personal apology from him, but I hope that will be the end of the matter.’

At the House of Keys this week, Mr Quayle said: ’I would like to take this opportunity again to apologise for the comments that I made in error regarding Mrs Beecroft’s attendance at the EU Trade Bill briefing.’