The Chief Minister says he was taken by surprise by the actions of the two former Education Department members, Zak Hall and John Houghton, in deliberately avoiding taking part in the
preschools debate and vote in Tynwald this week.

The two places in Education have been taken by MLCs Tony Wild and Juan Turner. 

Allan Bell says he had no option but to dismiss them under the principle of "collective responsibility".

It meant they were obliged to support their Minister, once a decision had been taken.