EDUCATION Minister Eddie Teare accused an MHK of political corruption by “Gerrymandering” with regard to the controversy over the proposed land swap alongside Kirk Michael school with property developers Dandara.

He was responding to a series of questions posed by David Cannan MHK in Tynwald this morning, following last night’s packed out public meeting in Kirk Michael to debate the issue.

Mr Cannan said that a free vote taken at the end of last night’s meeting overwhelmingly went against the Education department’s idea that they accept a land swap deal with Dandara who want to build homes on the existing playing field alongside the main road.

But Mr Teare’s response was that the meeting had been arranged at such short notice that it gave little or no opportunity for some people to attend who would have spoken in favour of the proposal. “In some respects last night’s meeting could be regarding as gerrymandering - because there was no opportunity for some people to attend.”

He added that he felt that future children at the school would be the eventual beneficiaries, but didn’t want to discuss the matter at length as negotiations were still continuing and no decision or agreement had yet be reached.

However, he said that he was concerned that Kirk Michael school might find itself unable to expand in the future if no land was available to build on. “I would want to avoid a situation such as at Ballaugh School which is now land-locked and has no opportunity for expansion.”

Mr Cannan replied sharply, “There is no question at all of Gerrymandering. What I will ask now is :will the Minister now consider a referendum?”

Mr Teare said the time had now passed for a referendum and should have been requested much earlier.

•  The dictionary says that “Gerrymandering” is a practice of political corruption that attempts to establish a political advantage for a particular party or group by manipulating geographic boundaries to create partisan, incumbent-protected, and neutral districts.