PETER Karran’s new roles in government were officially confirmed this afternoon (Friday).
The leader of the Liberal Vannin Party will be responsible for the government’s drug and alcohol strategy and for the Department of Home Affairs’ communications service.
The Onchan MHK was appointed to the Department of Home Affairs on July 16.
In June he was sacked from Chief Minister Allan Bell’s so-called Government of National Unity after he refused to toe the Council of Ministers’ line over the proposed acquisition of shares in Pinewood Shepperton Studios.
Home Affairs Minister Juan Watterson MHK today announced the delegation of department duties to his political members.
Mr Watterson will retain responsibility for the police himself.
Onchan MHK David Quirk, who said he wouldn’t work with Peter Karran in the Department of Education and Children soon after the general election, will have responsibility for the integrated Prison and Probation Service and the Isle of Man Fire and Rescue Service.
Mr Watterson said: ‘I am delighted to welcome Peter Karran to the Department of Home Affairs and to retain the services of David Quirk. They bring a wealth of experience and insight to the department’s affairs and I look forward to working with them for the benefit of the local community.’
In next week’s Isle of Man Examiner, Mr Karran talks about his new role as ‘drugs tsar’.
Before the general election in September last year, Karran refused to take on membership of any department and acted in opposition as the sole representative of Liberal Vannin.
However, when he became Chief Minister after the general election, Allan Bell wooed him and persuaded him to become a government minister.
While Karran joined the Department of Education and Children as the minister, fellow party members newly-elected as MHKs joined government departments too. Kate Beecroft joined Environment, Food and Agriculture, while Zac Hall joined Education.
Hall was sacked from both the department and the Liberal Vannin Party when he failed to support Karran’s plan for the proposed privatisation of the pre-school nurseries.
Karran was sacked in June as a minister after he broke ranks with his ministerial colleagues over the Pinewood deal.
Accepting a government position affects take-home pay.
A member of Tynwald receives a salary of £37,432. Department members get 30 per cent more, taking their salary to £48,661. Members of the Treasury get 40 per cent more.
Ministers get 50 per cent extra, taking their salary to £56,148. The Chief Minister gets 80 per cent more, although he declined to take the 1.2 per cent pay rise that members received in March.
The Speaker, Steve Rodan, receives 60 per cent more while the chairman of the Civil Service Commission, Alfred Cannan, gets a 40 per cent uplift.
All members get expenses on top of their salaries.