Southern MHK says one of the 'more senior figures' in House of Keys needs to step up
Tim Glover says he won't be putting his own name forward for chief minister.
The Arbory, Castletown and Malew MHK has tabled a motion of no-confidence against Alfred Cannan for debate next week (29 October).
Mr Glover ruled out forcing a vote at today's sitting (22 October) of the House of Keys as there will be ministers absent from the chamber.
He told Manx Radio he wanted all members to be present and able to debate on the topic.
When asked who he will be championing to replace Mr Cannan if the vote is successful, Mr Glover said it needs to be someone with more than three years' experience - ruling himself out of the running.
Back in 2021, when Mr Cannan was elected as Chief Minister by his peers, it was a tight race between him and Ramsey MHK Dr Alex Allinson.
In the end, Mr Cannan received 14 votes compared to Dr Allinson's eight.
Two members spoilt their ballots - Chris Thomas and John Wannenburgh.
HOW DID WE GET HERE?
Last week, Ramsey MHK Lawrie Hooper shocked colleagues when he issued his resignation from the post of Health and Social Care Minister at the first Tynwald sitting back after the summer recess.
Following that move, we saw a further departmental resignation from Douglas East MHK Joney Faragher.
Mr Glover described the scenes as a 'mess' and said the chief minister and Council of Ministers should be speaking to backbenchers about their ideas for the health system adding there's an 'enormous amount of discontent at the moment.
He also mooted the idea of a vote of no confidence.
That idea was further reinforced by Mr Hooper himself, who told Manx Radio the Council of Ministers ‘completely ignored’ information provided by Manx Care about the impact on service delivery if cuts were made.
Yesterday morning (21 October), Mr Cannan hit back at those comments, calling Mr Hooper 'disingenuous' for continuing to make broader comments about the Council of Ministers' position.
The chief minister added that if Mr Glover wanted to call a no-confidence vote he should 'just get on with this'.
The Arbory, Castletown and Malew MHK did just that yesterday evening, emailing his political colleagues to let them know it would be on next week's order paper.
That email was leaked to Manx Radio, before being confirmed by the Clerk of Tynwald's office.
MOTIVATIONS
Manx Radio's Lewis Foster asked the Arbory, Castletown and Malew MHK what motivated him to table the motion:
'GETTING ON WITH THE JOB'
In response to the motion tabled in Mr Glover's name, the Chief Minister issued this statement to Manx Radio: "There is much to resolve, not least the delivery of healthcare and our financial sustainability.
"I am focused on the job.
"My diary is not changing and together with colleagues across government we have a busy week ahead.”
NEWSCAST
And you can hear that full conversation between Mr Glover and Lewis in our latest newscast:
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