(CNS): Opposition Leader Roy McTaggart has said that while the Progressives will give the new government a chance to pull together a budget, they will hold the premier and her colleagues in the United People’s Movement accountable, “just like we have the previous premier”. Welcoming the group’s decision to take his advice and drop Panton, McTaggart said the PPM would not hesitate to be critical if their performance did not improve.

“Holding the government to account has always been, and remains, the opposition’s job,” he said in a statement issued Wednesday evening. “I am satisfied that the opposition has achieved our main objective — to bring about change and force the former PACT to acknowledge that new leadership and direction were needed by them.”

The Progressives were responsible for bringing the no-confidence motion on Tuesday after McKeeva Bush resigned from PACT last week, leaving then premier Wayne Panton without a clear majority. The PPM was not able to command a two-thirds majority to bring down the government because three MPs abstained, which meant that the motion technically failed. However, Panton was unable to command a majority against the vote, making it clear he was very unlikely to be able to remain as premier.

McTaggart stated that they had brought the motion because “something had to change to bring about a stable and effective government”.

The opposition leader was clearly disappointed that his preferred option had not come about, namely that some PACT members had joined forces with them to form a PPM-led government, “given the vast experience on our side”, which he thought would have been “the best solution”. However, he was still satisfied that the Progressives had forced out Panton, their former colleague and a founding member of the PPM.

The third option of calling a new general election, which is gaining traction on social media and other public platforms, with petitions reportedly beginning to circulate, was not supported by either the opposition or the new government. But public concern is growing about the new government headed up by the MP representing the smallest constituency in the country.

“While the opposition is willing to give a new government under the premier some leeway, there is little time to waste in tackling our country’s challenges and helping our people,” the opposition leader said. “We will hold the new premier and her colleagues accountable,” he added.

McTaggart said the PPM would support the new UPM government in areas the opposition agrees are priorities, including what he said were the most pressing challenges such as the cost of living crisis, reducing crime and access to affordable housing.

See the opposition leader’s statement below: