Chief Minister Howard Quayle has confirmed the Manx government is preparing for a ’hard Brexit’.

Mr Quayle said the government is now planning for a no deal outcome to the Brexit negotiations between the UK and Brussels - although he is still hopeful that an agreement can be reached.

He told the Examiner: ’I’ve had to remain neutral on this. The Isle of Man doesn’t take sides. But I am concerned about what’s going on.

’There is a good chance there could be a hard Brexit and we have to be prepared for it.’

Mr Quayle said whatever the outcome of the Brexit negotiations, the Isle of Man will remain in a customs union with the UK and freedom of movement will continue in the Common Travel Area with England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Eire.

But a no-deal outcome would result in the need for border controls between the Isle of Man and the Irish Republic.

Extra manpower would be needed to carry out the customs checks at the ports and on packages and parcels arriving through the post.

In Tynwald last week, Ramsey LibVan MHK Lawrie Hooper failed in a bid to get a select committee to review the policy aspects of the island’s proposed EU Withdrawal Bill.

He said: ’Brexit is big but thankfully the case for a parliamentary review of our approach to the legislation is quite short.’

’Crucially I’m not trying to delay the Bill,’ he insisted, adding that he was hopeful the outcome of the committee would actually speed up the passage of the Bill through the branches of parliament.

Mr Hooper said the Bill enabled EU law to be copied directly into Manx law through the secondary legislation route. He said that was probably okay initially to make sure there are no gaps left after Brexit.

’But what about further down the line?’ he asked. ’Are we OK with Council of Ministers being able to amend this retained EU law by order at any future date or even allowing for the retrospective application of EU law, or amending other Manx primary legislation?’

Mr Quayle said he had no issue with scrutiny of the Bill but that a select committee review would be counter productive.

Mr Hooper’s motion failed to carry by eight votes to 13 in the Keys, and six to three in LegCo.