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| Only Two Ministers wanted
the TT to Go Ahead
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Only treasury Minister Richard Corkill supported
Tourism Minister David Cretney in his battle to save the TT, we have learned.
The two ministers wanted the festival to go ahead despite the threat of
foot-and-mouth, while seven were opposed to it.
It's believed Transport
Minister Tony Brown, Department of Local Government and Environment Minister
Walter Gilbey and Trade and Industry Minister David North were also supportive
of staging the festival when ministers met for what many believed would be
decision day.
Their change of heart - when ministers finally voted - led
to the festival being cancelled.
Ironically the decision to cancel was
made after they all met foot-and-mouth expert Professor Fred Brown, brought to
the Island by frozen food boss Mike Priest, who believed the TT should go
ahead.
Mr Corkill would not say which way he voted at the meeting,
stating: 'I haven't got any comment really. It was a Council of Ministers
collective decision. I know there's been some speculation on who was for and
who was against the TT. It's one of those finely balanced decisions. Now the
decision has been made it's the Treasury's job to make sure we minimise the
damage for the Island as much as possible.'
Home Affairs Minister Allan
Bell did not attend Monday's crunch meeting but refused to say why.
'I
was off the Island, that's enough,' he said.
Neither Mr Cretney nor
Chief Minister Donald Gelling would reveal who voted which way and other
ministers quoted the Council of Ministers Act, which deems the council's voting
procedure confidential.
Trade and Industry Minister David North
said: 'The Council of Ministers Act is quite clear - proceedings are
confidential,' while Education Minister Steve Rodan echoed Mr North's comments.
Local Government and the Environment Minister Walter Gilbey
said: 'I am afraid that I have no comment as the proceedings in the Council of
Ministers are confidential.'
Health and Social Security Minister
Clare Christian said: 'Council of Ministers decisions are collective. It
would therefore be inappropriate for me to respond to your question.'
Agriculture Minister Alex Downie was off the Island and
unavailable for comment.
Mr Gelling said the reason why ministers were
silenced was because he wanted the right decision put out to the media at the
right time.
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