A last-gasp attempt to defer the cancellation of the Reciprocal Health Agreement is to be made in the House of Commons.

With the agreement due to end in just over two months time, Labour MP Andrew Mackinlay has tabled an early day motion calling on the Secretary of State for Health to review the decision, which he says is not only unfair for Island residents, but will also ‘substantially disadvantage UK residents’.

Mr MacKinlay is calling for Age Concern and major disability pressure groups and charities to be consulted as part of the review; for it to be conducted at ministerial level with the Health Ministers of the Isle of Man, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales as well as the Justice Secretary; and for full costs of the agreement to both jurisdictions be published.

He also wants to know exactly how costs would be paid for if the agreement is terminated.