Douglas Central MHK sacked from health department after two weeks

The Council of Ministers is understood to have collectively removed Chris Thomas

Douglas Central MHK Chris Thomas has been sacked as political member for the Department of Health and Social Care after just over two weeks in the role.

He was appointed on 18 October, following Douglas East MHK Joney Faragher’s departure in solidarity with Ramsey MHK Lawrie Hooper’s ministerial resignation.

Mr Thomas publicly called for the chief minister's resignation and declared his candidacy for the role in a no confidence debate in the House of Keys last week.

In a letter seen by Manx Radio, Chief Minister Alfred Cannan accuses Mr Thomas of "directly undermining" the relationship between the minister and departmental member.

Currently, the DHSC political members are Douglas North MHK David Ashford and MLC Tanya August-Hanson.

Alfred Cannan is reportedly working with them to “review the Manx Care mandate alongside the associated budget requirements.”

Manx Radio has approached the Council of Ministers for interview.

In the statement, the chief minister said: “It is regrettable that Mr Thomas’s recent actions have required the Council of Ministers to take this step.

"The Government Code clearly sets out the importance of a positive and productive relationship between a Minister and Members of a Government Department.

"Given my role as acting Minister for Health and Social Care, Mr Thomas has directly undermined that relationship and ethically Mr Thomas should have resigned from his role in the Department of Health and Social Care when he undertook these actions.

"I am sure Mr Thomas understands this position and I hope he can continue to find a way to support the work of the Government going forward.”