MHK defends department resignation

The MHK given political responsibility for the Island's bus service says she had the role in name only.

East Douglas member Brenda Cannell claims Leisure minister David Cretney and his Director of Public Transport, Ian Longworth, formed an alliance which excluded her.

Mrs Cannell, who's fighting to retain her seat in September's general election, says she was squeezed-out of key decisions on a new bus timetable and given no real power to influence change.

Major changes to the bus network went down badly with passengers when they were launched last autumn.

The MHK resigned her post in the department saying she'd been ignored.

On Mandate, Mrs Cannell denied she only resigned when the changes proved unpopular: