The fight to keep the island’s government-run pre-school nurseries has been lost.
Tynwald last night backed Education Minister Peter Karran’s proposal.
However, Mr Karran failed to secure even the backing of his two remaining department members. John Houghton (Douglas North) and Liberal Vannin member Zac Hall (Onchan) were absent from the vote.
Dudley Butt MLC had already resigned from the Department of Education and Children over the issue.
Mr Karran was therefore isolated in his own department and relied on the votes of the Council of Ministers.
The vote for the department’s plans for privatisation (13-9 in the House of Keys and 1-7 against in the Legislative Council) means private operators will take over facilities at 12 island schools in the autumn.
More on this story in tomorrow morning’s Manx Independent.
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