Perspective - Manx Radio

Tynwald is back and what looked like a fairly limited order paper developed into quite a informative sitting. Unleashed from the shackles of an agreed plan Ministers spoke with passion about what needs to change. We also heard from the new MHKs who made very thoughtful and insightful comments on the change they believe we voted for. Find out what the members made of it all on Perspective. Peace an...

On Perspective this week we hear from two new MHKs and one of our new Ministers. We voted for a change so what will that change look like? Will it start off with good intentions and end up with more of the same, or are we about to see a Manx political revolution?

Perspective 11.10.26 - could Laxey reignite its industrial past? Have we served you with more than your fill of politics over the past few months? Well this week’s Perspective promises to be an almost politics free zone. Career geologist and former Douglas High School pupil Dr Keith Baron returned to the Island a few weeks ago and provided some fascinating insights into the state of global geology...

There’s lies, damn lies and statistics, but what do the numbers from our recent election actually tell us? Have we really had a generational shift, or was the result just a further change in gear along a direction of travel that has been bad news for Ministers in particular but MHKs attempting to regain their seats more generally? Find out what the statisticians make of the figures on this week’s...

Election Day delivered one of the biggest upheavals ever so how will our new MHKs cope? They’ve got plenty of big issues to tackle and if lessons are to be learned from the last administration actions and delivery must happen quickly. The three MHKs who topped the polling across the Island speak on this week's Perspective. Is it reasonable for our next government to rely on the excuse of difficult...

St Ninians High School held its third ‘election market place’ last Thursday where St Ninian’s students gave the election candidates a good grilling. So what did the students make of the wannabe MHKs? Will the youth vote turn out in numbers and influence Thursday’s election? What are the hopes and concerns of 16 to 18 year olds? We’ll have answers to all these questions and more on Perspective. Do...

The Manx National Farmers Union has successfully brought food security to the attention of the Keys candidates so what’s changed in this election to make this so important? What is food security? A reliable food distribution infrastructure or a sustainable, more productive Manx food growing sector? Perhaps it’s both but it would appear the pendulum has swung too far towards reliance on imported fo...

Immigration appears to be a hot topic on the election doorstep but what is the concern? With overall population figures only increasing slightly in recent years why is immigration reaching the top of the election issues list? Assuming government retains its hundred thousand population aspiration how do we plan for this? What infrastructure do we need and how do we deliver that when we struggle to...

Former Treasury Minister and MHK for Ayre Eddie Teare led the charge to fill the blackhole in government finances caused by a £200 million cut in the VAT sharing arrangement with the UK in 2008. In the year that followed the 2016 general election when Mr Teare’s measures were fully effective the deficit had fallen to just under £10 million, but did this cause the economic stagnation that’s plagued...

Ramsey MHK Alex Allinson is stepping down from the Keys after two terms representing the town. He reflects on why government has failed to deliver over the past five years, tells us why Manx Care is still the best option for delivering health care, and some of the fundamental differences that led to his departure from Council of Ministers. He gives some good advice to candidates and acknowledges h...

For sixteen years the Small Countries Financial Management Centre has been running a program to help smaller poorer countries around the world to build capacity and resilience. This work has provided substantial benefit to 400 senior public officials from around forty small developing nations and the Centre’s work has been applauded by the world’s major financial institutions. A few weeks ago the...

As the dying embers of the Cannan administration gently cool the Chief Minister joins us to look back at the past five years. We regularly hear the phrase “this is the worst government we’ve ever had” trotted out in the run up to possibly the last four elections, but is that true? You won’t be too surprised to learn that Alf Cannan doesn’t think so. Indeed Mr Cannan is bucking a trend in being the...

July Tynwald narrowly avoided running into a fourth day so we couldn’t squeeze it all in to one roundup program. This week we cover, the wind farm, climate change progress and the Chief Constable’s report. There’s also the mysterious case of when is Council of Ministers’ collective responsibility not Council of Ministers’ collective responsibility. We hear about a good bit of politicking which wil...

There’s too much Tynwald to squeeze in to just one program this month so we’re going to have two. This week we’ve got whistle blowing, an investigation into the Department for Enterprise, energy regulation, climate change progress and a move to reduce the number of presiding officers. Next week we’ll have wind farms, poverty, the chief constable’s report and more, but Perspective this week promise...

A game of two very distinct halves on Perspective this week with some reflection on his time in office from outgoing Tynwald President Laurence Skelly and one man’s crusade aganist the sellout appearance of Katie Hopkins at the Gaiety. What makes a good President and is it frustrating at times? And is the government selling out on its stated principles by allowing outspoken comic Katie Hopkins to...

On Perspective this week we take a nostalgic look at one presenter’s half a century of broadcasting. He also discusses how things need to change to prepare for the next fifty years. How has government and Tynwald influenced the media since the birth of Manx Radio and what role should they play in influencing the future. With most people relying on social media to access their news is there any fut...

Everyone wants cheaper energy bills I imagine, and I suppose most of us would be happier knowing our energy supplies were directly controlled by governments we rely on. If this week’s guests are right renewable energy offers cheaper more secure electricity supplies, so why has government been generally silent in trying to sell the more sustainable and potentially cheaper green agenda which the Man...

Budget reform, the £20m health overspend, hospital beds, dyslexia and reform of government’s land ownership were all discussed in this month’s Tynwald. Is there any way of getting health spending back in line with budgets? Is government rushing its hurdles over changes to how in manages its property? All these questions and many more will be answered on this week’s Perspective. We also hear about...

Assisted dying moved a bit closer in June Tynwald. Despite neither Tynwald nor the public knowing why Royal Assent wasn’t granted amendments were moved which according to the Attorney General were all that’s needed to get the greenlight from the UK. Council of Ministers received two bloody noses from members on budget reform and dyslexia, and there was yet another horse tram debate. A pre-election...

Douglas City Council appears to have a plan to solve housing issues in the city. The Council recently opened its flagship housing development the James Brown Apartments. The complex is made up of 48 two-bedroomed units, built to the latest environmental standards and fitted with air source heat pumps. So what is Douglas doing that allows it to deliver quality housing projects on time and on budget...

Manx Care’s mission is to become the best small Island health and social care system in the world. An ambitious aspiration but few people would argue against it I imagine. That said, despite a substantial uplift in funding, Manx Care seems some distance away from its aspiration, and incapable of sticking to the budget set for it. So what’s going wrong and how do we cure Manx Care’s ailments. The M...

Quite a mix on Perspective this week with some cracking speeches from May Tynwald on a move to change the tax status for cohabiting couples, and a request to speed up changes to drugs law. We also have Christian Jones’ parting gift to Manx Radio, a revealing insight into a 1940s guide on how to sabotage government. It seems that what was viewed in the 1940s as sabotage is now deemed to be best pra...

Bearing in mind the fast approaching September General Election, May Tynwald was a relatively convivial affair. Health, Brownfield Sites and Cannabis were just some of the highlights which we’ll squeeze in to Perspective this week, but Ramsey Cottage Hospital, renewable energy, and government’s efficiency program were also raised. Perspective is bursting at the seams this week. We also ponder why...

Why are Garff residents so angry about the Ørsted Mooir Vannin wind farm and is it Ørsted or the government they’ve got in their sites. As the controversial Clause 5 is finally dropped from the Local Government Bill why did it cause such consternation across the local authorities? Also passing through LegCo at the moment is the Retirement Benefits Schemes (Amendment) Bill 2026 which updates our 26...

Inaction on climate and nature could reduce GDP by around 5% over the next decade, and the weather we’re experiencing now is the most stable it will be in our lifetimes. These were the stark messages delivered to an invited audience of the Island’s politicians and senior civil servants earlier this week. They heard a call for urgent action to address the climate and nature crisis, and were urged t...