ALLAN Bell is the clear favourite to become the Isle of Man’s next Chief Minister after he and Onchan MHK Peter Karran were the only two names to go forward for the election next week.

Mr Bell, now serving his seventh term as MHK for Ramsey, is the longest serving member of the House of Keys and during those 30 years has held the top job in most government departments.

Mr Bell is widely respected in the Island and particularly in the Island’s business sector where he has established strong links in recent years as Treasury Minister and latterly Minister of the Department of Economic Development.

Mr Karran is also a long serving member of the house, and is now starting his sixth term in office as MHK for Onchan.

However, his decision to opt out of departmental or even Ministerial roles some years ago means he has never held the responsibility of leading a government department.

This is likely to be a major stumbling block in his bid to become Chief Minister, although it’s likely he may gain some support from “back bench” politicians and his Liberal Vannin Party colleagues, newly elected Kate Beecroft and Zac Hall.

But the overwhelming favourite for the Chief Minister’s job is Allan Bell and for Mr Karran to defeat him in next week’s vote at a special sitting of Tynwald a week today (October 11) looks extraordinarily unlikely.