Reshuffle of departmental members announced

Chief Minister Allan Bell has announced his long-awaited reshuffle.

After hinting for weeks he may chop and change departmental members, he announced a new lineup late this afternoon.

Only the Department of Education and Children remains unchanged, while the Department of Economic Development has swapped both of its political members.

New MLC Mike Coleman has been given his first government job, joining the Department of Home Affairs.

Meanwhile, Rushen MHK Lawrence Skelly has left the Department of Community, Culture and Leisure to join the Department of Infrastructure as the new chair of planning.

Alex Downie, who’s been with the Department of Economic Development since it began and spent more than a decade spearheading the Island’s e-commerce and space industries at the Treasury before that, will also move.

He’ll rejoin Treasury, with Middle MHK Howard Quayle and Castletown’s Richard Ronan taking Economic Development jobs.