Hooper Resigns

Lawrie Hooper has today resigned as Minister for the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).

He told the House of Keys this afternoon that ‘resigning is the only card I have left to play’.

Mr Hooper said: ‘I cannot, in good conscience, continue to serve a chief minister who has set out to both publicly and privately, undermine my ability to do the job that is required, to undermine the ability of the ability of the Department of Health and the Manx Care board to operate effectively, and who refuses to accept responsibility for the consequences of these decisions.

‘I hoped that it would not come to this but it has become clear that I am no longer able to affect change from within the Council of Ministers, and as I fundamentally disagree with the course of action that I believe has been decided upon, I have no option but to resign.

‘I would like to take this final opportunity to thank all of those whose hard work has made such a difference over the last three years, departmental members, officers and staff in the department and Manx Care and the board of Manx Care, and to apologise to the people of this island’s course from within.

‘Resigning is the only card I have left to play.’