A union leader has launched a scathing attack on the government and accused Tynwald of being blind to serious concerns for the island’s future.

Angela Moffatt, negotiations officer for public sector union Prospect, said she was dismayed at Chief Minister Howard Quayle’s state of the nation address - and the warm reaction it received from Tynwald members, many of whom praised both the speech and the government’s achievements of in the past year.

But, she argued, despite the Programme for Government setting targets, the Isle of Man was facing serious problems and the current administration had not scored any major achievements.

She accused the government being all talk and no action.

It had yet to resolve matters such as homelessness and increased use of the foodbank, was blinkered to problems facing sectors of industry and neither the government or Tynwald generally was heeding growing public concern at the island’s future.

Things like the SAVE initiative, aimed at increasing public sector efficiency, should not be regarded as an achievement as they should be the norm from any government, she said.

’All they are doing is trotting out a few of the most insignificant issues as achievements,’ she said.

’This shining new dawn, wonderful new people with amazing new attitudes who are going to bring this sweep of energy and vision and unity to breathe life back into the island - it hasn’t happened.

’I think a lot a people have no confidence in the long-term future of this island. They are failing to address that.

’Worse, they are failing to acknowledge it.’

She added: ’What are they going to do about the fact that people don’t believe this island has a long-term future?

’I will give this to [former Chief Minister] Allan Bell and [former Treasury Minister] Eddie Teare, and all the rest of them, they would have been able to answer that question.’

Much has been made of the ’consensus’ approach to politics, with many pointing out there is less conflict on the floor of Tynwald.

But Ms Moffatt expressed concern at the number of private members’ briefings that government was holding, ahead of Tynwald debates and legislation being considered in public, and queried whether that was stifling open political debate.

’They just think, if they talk and are nice to people and each other, it is all going to be all alright and it is all going to be better,’ she added

’I can smell bullshit a mile off and, the stench of it coming out of the place at moment, it is enough to make some people move off the island.’

She said the voluntary living wage, approved by Tynwald last month, was a classic example of government paying lip service to an issue.

Policy and Reform Minister Chris Thomas hopes the £8.61 level, which is voluntary for employers - as opposed to the mandatory, and lower, minimum wage top band of £7.50 - will help reduce the pay gap between those at different ends of the wage scale.

Government itself has 123 employees on the books who are currently below the living wage rate.

Ms Moffatt was unimpressed.

’The living wage is, like Chris Thomas, full of flannel,’ she said. ’All surface, no substance.

’Saying the right thing, but not actually putting any muscle into it.’

The union has offered to engage with the Manx National Economic Development Forum, for future discussions on the living wage, but was unimpressed when it was told to write in formally.

In his state of the nation address, Mr Quayle acknowledged ’painful’ changes would be needed to solve the problem of rising health costs.

The Department of Health has yet to come back with firm proposals after consulting on the idea of increasing prescription charges and reducing exemptions.

The chief minister also pointed out that, with the number of retired people on the increase, it would put more pressure on the working population.

’I do not pretend to have the solution to this problem,’ he told Tynwald two weeks ago, ’but I highlight it today as it will need to be addressed sooner rather than later.’

He also outlined what he regarded as his administration’s achievements. These included the SAVE initiative, the restoration of free television licences for the over-75s, and a budget ’aimed at working families, increasing child benefit and the personal income tax allowance’.

He described the government’s negotiating position with the Steam Packet over a future sea services agreement as ’bold’ and announced an independent review of gas prices.