14 Facts About Alfred Cannan

Alfred Cannan has served as the Chief Minister of the Isle of Man since 12 October 2021.

Alfred Cannan's nomination was the first ever in which only MHKs had a vote: previously the members of the Legislative Council took part in the election.

Alfred Cannan replaced Howard Quayle, who was stepping down from his position and declined to run in the 2021 House of Keys election.

On 12 October 2021, Alfred Cannan defeated Ramsey MHK Alex Allinson to become the Isle of Man's Chief Minister.

In 2011, Alfred Cannan was elected as MHK for the constituency of Michael, which was abolished in 2016.

Alfred Cannan was narrowly defeated by Howard Quayle in the election of the Chief Minister, and was appointed Treasury Minister in October 2016.

Alfred Cannan has been a strong advocate for reform of the National Health Service on the Isle of Man and was instrumental in initiating the review by Sir Jonathan Michael which has led to a proposed separation of policy and operations and the formation of a new delivery organisation named Manx Care.

Alfred Cannan maintained that the focus of his budgets must be on "working families" and the challenge of dealing with a decade of low wage growth.

Alfred Cannan's budgets saw significant rises in personal tax allowances alongside targeted above inflation welfare increases for low paid workers as well as child benefit.

In March 2020 Alfred Cannan delivered the economic package that was to sustain the Isle of Man through the COVID pandemic which included a salary support scheme and the Manx Earnings Replacement Allowance.

Alfred Cannan established a cross government Economic Recovery Group which, amongst a number of initiatives, oversaw the formation of the Manx Development Corporation and launched a major review of the Isle of Man Economic Strategy.

Alfred Cannan's administration was rocked in October 2024 with the shock resignations of Minister for Health and Social Care Lawrie Hooper and Political Member for the Department of Health and Social Care Joney Faragher, both of whom claimed that Alfred Cannan was attempting to privatize Manx health services.

Alfred Cannan had previously faced no-confidence calls in March earlier in the year due to public discontent with the 2024 budget, however he managed to survive this crisis despite a petition for a vote garnering over 1,800 signatures.

Alfred Cannan was born in Reading, Berkshire, England, in 1968 and educated at King William's College, Isle of Man, and Sandhurst before undertaking a short service commission with the Royal Regiment of Wales.