staaue Posted January 18, 2008 Share Posted January 18, 2008 Politicians controlled by officials - MHK An MHK has voiced his concern that politicians are merely there to 'rubberstamp' what government officials want. Rushen member Quintin Gill was speaking after Tynwald debated spending £1.25 million on road works at Governor's Bridge. Mr Gill (pictured) believes the professionals are controlling politicians rather than the other way round. He says politicians are elected to make decisions, but that becomes a problem when the political view differs from the professional one. Well done Mr Gill. About time someone in your position spoke out loud to confirm what we all know. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skeddan Posted January 18, 2008 Share Posted January 18, 2008 Who are these 'professionals' - is it the same as the 'government officials'? If so, who are these government officials? Civil servants? When it is said 'what government officials want' - this would seem to suggest some kind of policy or agenda. If so, what might that be, who shapes it or how is it arrived at. It may be 'speaking out' but it's a bit vague to me - 'loud' perhaps, but not 'clear', and I think a little more needs to be said by Mr Gill. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cronky Posted January 18, 2008 Share Posted January 18, 2008 I have to say that I have sometimes speculated as to the power of civil servants here in the Isle of Man. Moreover, I would like to know where they get their ideas from. It seems to me that a lot of the change in the Isle of Man seems to be be introduced via the civil service without the scrutiny of the MHK's. The most intruiging post of all is the Chief Secretary Mary Williams whose organisational tree shows her as pulling the strings of the Council of Ministers. If anyone could explain exactly what her post is about I would be most interested. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slinkydevil Posted January 18, 2008 Share Posted January 18, 2008 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keyboarder Posted January 18, 2008 Share Posted January 18, 2008 Just as I suspected - there's an oik running the lot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cret Posted January 18, 2008 Share Posted January 18, 2008 Shouldn't that say 'The UnProfessionals'? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skeddan Posted January 18, 2008 Share Posted January 18, 2008 The Mission Statement says the Chief Secretary's Office shall 1. facilitate successful leadership by the Chief Minister, the Council of Ministers and the Lieutenant Governor 'facilitate successful leadership' sounds a bit like management consultant speak for 'point them in the direction they should be going and make sure they stick to it'. i.e. drive it through and have them rubber stamp it. Anyone know who appoints CSO senior staff or who approves these appointments? I think slinkydevil might have summed it up . but Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thesultanofsheight Posted January 19, 2008 Share Posted January 19, 2008 An MHK has voiced his concern that politicians are merely there to 'rubberstamp' what government officials want. Mr Gill (pictured) believes the professionals are controlling politicians rather than the other way round. That's what you get when you have weak politicians. Can anyone blame government officials? If you knew your weak boss never argued about anything you suggested you'd be doing it too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
staaue Posted January 19, 2008 Author Share Posted January 19, 2008 An MHK has voiced his concern that politicians are merely there to 'rubberstamp' what government officials want. Mr Gill (pictured) believes the professionals are controlling politicians rather than the other way round. That's what you get when you have weak politicians. Can anyone blame government officials? If you knew your weak boss never argued about anything you suggested you'd be doing it too. That's a good point, but are they all bad!!! We hear a select few MHK's names repeatedly voicing their concerns, while the rest we hardly even know exist until election time. The other side of the issue, that goes somewhat against what you just said, is can the MHK's really do anything about it? Staaue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluemonday Posted January 19, 2008 Share Posted January 19, 2008 That would be Quentin 'Mileage' Gill would it? http://www.manxradio.com/readNEwsItem.aspx?id=14633 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sneaky Dolores Posted January 19, 2008 Share Posted January 19, 2008 Politicians controlled by officials - MHK An MHK has voiced his concern that politicians are merely there to 'rubberstamp' what government officials want. Rushen member Quintin Gill was speaking after Tynwald debated spending £1.25 million on road works at Governor's Bridge. Mr Gill (pictured) believes the professionals are controlling politicians rather than the other way round. He says politicians are elected to make decisions, but that becomes a problem when the political view differs from the professional one. Well done Mr Gill. About time someone in your position spoke out loud to confirm what we all know. :D Does anybody know what the relationship between the civil service and government is in, say, the UK? I'd be interested to know how far civil servants act as advisors for government in other places. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gladys Posted January 19, 2008 Share Posted January 19, 2008 I have had some experience of the civil service (Whitehall) and Government in the UK. The department my then employer had most dealings with, very definitely had its agenda and policy set by whoever was the Secretary of State at the time. However, you could see hints of the 'Yes, Minister' manipulation, but this was clearly within the confines of the policy dictated by the SofS. Although, how far the general policy was influenced by the civil servants was a moot point. It was always said it was the decision-makers you needed to influence, not the decision-takers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Declan Posted January 20, 2008 Share Posted January 20, 2008 That would be Quentin 'Mileage' Gill would it?http://www.manxradio.com/readNEwsItem.aspx?id=14633 £25000? He could get the Tours coach from his constituency and back everyday (including weekends) for seventeen and a half years for that! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Declan Posted January 20, 2008 Share Posted January 20, 2008 In fact if you take into account weekends, bank holidays, and say 20 days annual leave, he could get the coach for 28 years. For that matter why are we paying him to get to work in the first place? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Declan Posted January 20, 2008 Share Posted January 20, 2008 Reread article, properly this time, oops, QG "only" claimed £3,916. Still that's four years of coach travel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.