New chief minister pledges to deliver 'mandate for change'

Chris Thomas, the Isle of Man's new chief minister, said he is "honoured" to be appointed, pledging to use his long experience as a member of the House to Keys to deliver change for Manx residents.

The Douglas Central MHK defeated newcomer Kirrie Jenkins in Tuesday's vote, describing his victory as "very emotional".

However, Thomas insisted the appointment was not about him personally, and stressed his priority was to deliver on the "mandate for change" advanced in September's general election, in which 15 of the 24 MHKs voted in were newcomers.

He said: "I build teams well, and encourage learning and encourage teamwork. That's the way we'll go forward."

Thomas was first elected to the House in a 2013 by-election, and has held several ministerial positions, including policy and reform, infrastructure, and, most recently, Treasury.

He credited his success in Tuesday's election to the trust he had built with fellow members.

Speaking after being elected, Thomas said his immediate priority was to form a Council of Ministers - appointed on merit - before bringing the team together to agree on priorities.

He acknowledged that several newcomers likely to take ministerial positions would largely be "learning on the job", but said supporting colleagues would be central to his leadership.

He said he also hoped to include Jenkins as a minister.

The chief minister said he was taking advice and would take his time to get to know both the new and old MHKs "to find out exactly where we're aligned [and] what the common ground is".

"We need a Council of Ministers that is clearly aligned and knows where it's going," he asserted.

Arbory, Castletown and Malew MHK Kirrie Jenkins described her candidacy for chief minister as a "bold move" for a first-time politician.

"I wasn't even a politician three weeks ago, so it's still history, isn't it?" she said.

Had she been successful in her bid for the top position, Jenkin would have been the first female, and first newcomer, in the chief minister role.

"I'm not disappointed because all 24 of us came in here with enthusiasm, to make change," she said.

One of the focus points of Jenkins' campaign was growing the economy.

"It's very clear we have got to get our finances, our economy, back on track - and so I will be pushing for that.

"Wherever I end up, that will be my message," she said.

In the first round of voting Thomas secured 16 votes to Jenkins' six, with two spoilt votes.

After comfortably securing the majority, a second round of voting took place with the preferred candidate, Thomas, standing alone.

Thomas secured 22 votes, with two against - Jenkins herself, and Ayre and Michael MHK Stephen Broad.

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