Chief Minister reacts to claims government were high handed and oppressive during pandemic

The Chief Minister has responded to a damming letter from the Chair of the British Medical Association, which has attacked the Island's Covid response.

In particular the letter addressed the treatment of the Island's former medical director, Dr Rosalind Ranson, and the resulting employment tribunal which saw her awarded £3.2 million.

Professor Philip Banfield said this outcome was as a result of the Isle of Man Government's 'high handed, malicious, insulting and oppressive manner.'

There is currently a fully independent review ongoing into Government's handling of the pandemic.

Citing this review Chief Minister Alf Cannan said the Island is fully committed to identifying lessons, calling it a robust, transparent and independent process.

He responded to Professor Banfield's letter saying he cannot see how his intervention has any beneficial effect in terms of supporting the interests of healthcare professionals, concluding by saying he rejects the content of the letter in the strongest possible terms.