Manning votes with the government

Former Prime Minister Patrick Manning on Friday voted with the government while his colleagues on the opposition benches did not.

It was not a particularly important issue, but for the records it showed that Manning broke with his party.

Speaker Wade Mark had asked for a vote for or against a motion seeking to grant Energy Minister Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan permission to conclude a ministerial statement 10 minutes after the scheduled tea break at 4.30 .

There were 26 Government MPs in the House at the time who all voted “yes”. Of the 10 opposition members nine were opposed.

Manning seemed a little confused when asked for his vote, first stating no and then changing it to the affirmative, causing members on both sides to burst into laughter.

When the Speaker announced the result he said said 27 votes were registered for the government.