Gef’s Keys Preview

Our beloved MHKs have one final sitting to get through before Christmas, but with just seven questions on the order paper, it should be over before you can say 12 drummers drumming.

The House of Keys was set up to provide poorly paid politicians with a warm space to gather, chat and occasionally have a doze while listening to that bloke who used to be on the radio ‘moaning on the back benches’.

Kicking off Tuesday’s sitting is a question from Jason Moorhouse (Arbory, Castletown and Malew) who will ask DoI Minister Chris Thomas to make a statement on the Highway Code.

Next up we have former teacher turned MHK Jason Moorouse, who will ask the DoI Minister about the wage agreement in place for the interim chief exec of the department.

The third question comes from two-term MHK Jason Moorhouse, who will ask the DoI Minister how many houses the DoI owns in the south of the island which have been a) purpose built as accessible accommodation; and b) modified to include accessible accommodation.

We understand that the second part of that question relates to a young couple who told Mr Moorhouse they were forced to stay in a stable due to a lack of available accommodation in the south of the island.

The fourth question comes from a Mr J Moorhouse from Castletown, a regular contributor to proceedings, who wants to ask the Justice and Home Affairs Minister Jane Poole-Wilson how many dog attacks on people have been on people in each of the last five years.

Coming in at number five, member of the Economic Policy Review Committee Jason Moorhouse will be asking the Education Minister Julie Edge how many children attended Ballakermeen at the start of 2020, 2021 and 2022 academic years and what the projected figures are for 2023, 2024, 2025.

Then, in an exciting twist, Keele University graduate Jason Moorhouse will be asking Ms Edge on what dates last month she or her officers sat down with representatives of the NASUWT.

The final question of 2022 will come from the poll topping Jason Moorhouse, who will ask the current Enterprise Minister Lawrie Hooper (correct at the time of writing) what factors led to the removal of the bust of Captain Quilliam from its base in Castletown.

With that Speaker Juan Watterson will no doubt be ending the sitting with a jolly rendition of Good King Wenceslas, albeit with a few changes, to better reflect Tynwald’s attitude towards children who receive school meals going hungry this Christmas.

Good King Alfredlad looked out
On the Feast of Molly
A roundels not a roundabout
Most trips are a jolly
Brightly shone the moon that night
Though this house is cruel
When a hungry child comes into sight
We shut the door you fool