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Tynwald President 'not helping democracy' claim

East Douglas MHK Brenda Cannell accused the President of Tynwald of "not helping democracy" this morning.

Her accusation was made as the May sitting of Tynwald got underway.

She wanted to put forward an urgent question about why the Department of Health has published an advert for a general surgeon with an interest in breast care.

Mrs Cannell believes this goes against the wishes of the Manx public, who want to see the retention of a dedicated breast cancer surgeon.

It's understood Mrs Cannell spoke with President Noel Cringle on the phone about this yesterday, but he felt the question wasn't the right avenue for this matter: (play audio clip)

Health minister David Anderson has this morning circulated a letter to Tynwald members saying his department would not go ahead with advertising the new post until after the matter had been discussed in next month's sitting of the court.

As such he believes there is no need to raise the issue as a matter of urgent public importance today.

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