Perspective - Manx Radio

July Tynwald saw several debates about housing and development with reassurances given about “lots of work going on behind the scenes”. An entertaining exchange saw the Housing Minister attempting to woo Jason Moorhouse but he was playing hard to get. We also hear from the Home Affairs Minister about the cost of the new sexual assault referral centre and emergency planning. Can our elected members really achieve more by asking an occasional question or moving a Tynwald motion than they could by getting there sleeves rolled up at the decision making coal face of a department? I mean …… Really?  

Despite food prices having been higher in recent years Manx agriculture continues to face significant challenges. Closures of Ramsey Bakery and Shoprite have impacted on Manx food sales in the Isle of Man, the meat plant continues to face significant problems and recently the Department of Infrastructure has imposed huge increases in charges to remove fallen stock from Manx farms. On Perspective we take a trip to the Southern Agricultural Show to talk to the Manx National Farmers Union and the Department of Food and Agriculture about the current state of Manx farming and the prospects for the future.

Perspective 21.7.24 - we’re three years in to the Cannan administration but has much changed? The Chief Minister is very upbeat about the progress his government is making.We’re pretty much three years in to the Cannan administration but has much changed. There certainly seem to be a few glimmers of progress but is the change that was promised being felt yet by the people? The Chief Minister is very upbeat about the progress his government is making and you can find out why on this episode of Perspective. We’ll also consider the impact the new UK Labour government will have on Manx prospects and reflect on the Covid report and government’s response to it. While Alf Cannan is not exactly talking jam tomorrow it’s fair to say the jam today is barely enough to cover a slice of toast.

Controversial climate scientist Paul Burgess has made several claims based on his interpretation of climate science which conflict significantly from the general consensus reached by climate scientists who say we need to act swiftly if we are to avoid our climate becoming so extreme that we will be unable to live in it. Mr Burgess refutes this consensus but on Perspective this week Adrian Cowin and Ralph Peake challenge Mr Burgess’s position. Are we all about to bake in a hotter climate? Can renewables reduce our energy bills? Lots of questions but who do you believe?

While a significant majority of climate scientists are increasingly alarmed by the rapid pace of climate change, a growing proportion of voters across Europe are voting to stop climate action. That pleases Perspective's guest this week, Paul Burgess, who describes himself as a climate scientist and friend of four times gaoled, far right politician Tommy Robinson. You may be vehemently opposed to what he says or perhaps one of his big supporters - either way his views represent those of many people both here and across Europe and we would be foolish not to listen to them.

They say a week is a long time in politics but I hope not too long as this week’s Perspective looks at some of the June Tynwald highlights. The Chief Minister explains why belts need tightening even further if health funding is to continue to grow, Tim Glover is concerned about DoI anouncing big increases in costs for farmers - so is the Agriculture Minister. The Infrastructure Minister’s budget is tight so he’s looking for cost recovery and we find we’ve travelled full circle back to the Chief Minister looking for efficiencies. Confused? Who’d be a politician hey?

Garff MHK Daphne Caine has certainly not been short of challenges since she took up the reins at the Department of Education. Do you save £7m a year by closing primary schools and other ‘efficiencies’ or acknowledge that the backlash from those affected will be to big a political price to pay for a government which struggles to find popularity? As ever in politics there’s always much more to these decisions than the pithy headline as Mrs Caine explains on Perspective. The Chief Minister told Tynwald he’s looking for efficiencies across government so is the school closure rejection an opportunity missed?

You could be forgiven for thinking that the House of Keys is about to make an historic decision to introduce assisted dying, but is that really the case? Also as we approach the end of the third year of the current House of Keys, June Tynwald will be asked to consider three motions on housing but will any of these make any meaningful impact on the housing crisis that the Keys members were elected to address? And will the horse trams ever been seen trotting along the full length of the promenade. Tynwald certainly revving up the political debate in its post TT sitting.

The Manx Labour Party held it’s AGM a few weeks ago so a good excuse to find out what it’s all about. Do we still need a Labour movement in the Isle of Man or has it’s time past? The Labour Party was formed in 1918 to fight against the social injustice of the time and over the century that followed it achieved much of it’s initial objectives, so what’s left to fight for? Does party politics work in the Isle of Man? Manx Labour is not affiliated to UK Labour but could it be strong enough to form a government at the 2026 general election?

May Tynwald was a relatively brief an uncontroversial affair but even with a light Order Paper there were still a few items of interest. Some members expressing righteous indignation over Tynwald’s unwillingness to suspend its standing orders while others dismissing this as a storm in a tea cup. And what’s really happening in Peel with apparent contradictions between submissions to the North West Plan and public statements by the Commissioners. Is Council Ministers trying to keep secret, information which should be in the public domain or is the new Policy Alliance just making political mischief? Here's Peel's response to comments made by their MHK Kate Lord-Brennan -Draft-Area-Plan-for-the-North-and-West-Statement.docx (live.com)

Political think tank - Reayrtys - and Prof Peter Edge from Oxford Brookes University want to talk about reform of Legislative Council. Perspective this week asks them why? How does tinkering with our parliamentary structures help address the housing crisis, cost of living crisis and the difficulties faced by the hospitality sector. Seasoned political commentator Alastair Ramsay has seen it all before and publicly active LegCo member Tanya August-Hanson just wants to get on with the job. More political navel gazing or an essential reform to make politics work better for the people?

Stressed, tearing your hair out, feeling overwhelmed by the pace of the world we live in? Well the Isle of Man Praying the Keeills week may just be the answer. It runs all through next week and organisers Rev Canon Janice Ward, Phil Craine and Andrew Foxon tell you all about it on Perspective on Sunday at 12 noon on Manx Radio with me Phil Gawne. Explore the Island’s Christian heritage, immerse yourself in the peace and tranquillity of the Manx countryside, and engage with other good hearted, loving people. Perhaps that should be one of Government’s new strategic objectives?

What’s happening at Onchan District Commissioners? Prompted by comments made at the recent AGM Onchan MHK Julie Edge doesn’t hold back on her thoughts over the behaviour of some of the Commissioners. One of the Commissioners attracting Ms Edge’s ire responds to the criticism. So can all sides work together in the future for the best interests of the people of Onchan? Should they be burying their differences or are they right to air these matters publicly?  If you’re looking for something to put fire in your political belly, this week’s Perspective may well be just what you’re looking for.  

A new political force has been slowly emerging in Tynwald and this week’s Perspective tries to discover what it’s all about. Definitely not a political party, possibly a loose political alliance but certainly made up of MHKs Claire Christian, Julie Edge and Chris Thomas. What do they stand for, how will they deliver change, are their ideas relevant to the needs of the Manx public? Government has “listened to you” but will anything change? Will the new rebel alliance be any better at delivering the policies that matter to you or will their attempts be crushed by dark side. Sounds like light sabres at dawn!

Council of Ministers met the people this week and after a few teething problems with the first session the initiative was generally considered a positive one. So what did they learn? Did they listen? Will policies and strategies change following the feedback received, or will the same story be repackaged to better reflect public concerns? Perspective tries to find the answers but perhaps time will be a better judge as to how meaningful this listening exercise actually was. You wait around for a Minister to speak to for two and a half years then they all turn up at once!

Housing, NHS dentistry, government handling of Covid and the Dr Ranson appeal, cheaper internet services, and greater fiscal responsibility were just a few of the items discussed in Tynwald this week. Perspective tries to squeeze all this and more into the program. There was some quite heated debate and political rifts becoming more evident but one thing which Tynwald unanimously agreed was to condemn the violence which has caused so many innocent deaths in Gaza and Israel. A £2.3 million overspend dressed up as a good news story and a u-turn on the southern pool. Tynwald certainly creating some great headlines if nothing else!

Manx Care’s ambition is to become the best small Island health and social care system in the world and Manx Care’s Chief Executive certainly has the passion and commitment to try to deliver that very worthy aspiration. So why have we not seen  that ambition being delivered so far? What obstacles lie in the way of Manx Care delivering health and social services to help us all live long and healthy lives. Find out when Teresa Cope joins Phil Gawne on Perspective. If strategies, reports and plans cured illnesses we’d all be a lot healthier - so when will we start to see the real change and improvement that significant budget increases appear to promise?

Are you happy with your energy bills? Do you like the uncertainty of how much your next fuel purchase is going to cost? Are you a gardener or farmer concerned about the past four months’ above average rainfall? Is it possible to mitigate against the problems climate change will bring or has that boat already sailed? Energy and Sustainability Centre Directors Ralph Peak and Adrian Cowin think they have some of the answers, and they share their thoughts on this week’s Perspective. Whether you accept man-made Climate Change or not, cheaper, cleaner energy must be a good thing? Or do you think it’s just an unnecessary drop of Manx Green Wash in a mighty overheated global ocean?

Great opportunity to represent the Island both here and abroad, good people skills required, must be able to please all the people all the time, while taking the really tough and difficult decisions. You’ll be working with a great team, many of whom want your job, and all of your 86,000 stakeholders expect you to be instantly available to answer their call. This is a five year post provided you don’t upset too many people! Who’d want to be the Chief Minister? Well Alf Cannan seems keen and he joins Phil Gawne on Perspective. How does he think he’s doing half way through his term in office? Any green shoots waiting round the corner or is that just MHKs wielding long knives?

On last week’s Perspective the Treasury Minister made a valiant attempt to defend the Isle of Man Government’s Tax Strategy. The Strategy was presented to Tynwald this week, not for approval but merely to be received, but even that modest objective came close to being derailed by an amendment from David Ashford. On Perspective we hear from several disgruntled Tynwald members who had hoped for much more in the strategy. We also hear why Tynwald members didn’t think that it was necessary for international standards to be applied to the size of Keys constituencies. Tynwald was certainly sailing through troubled waters this week.