Manx Newscast

It may be hard to believe, but we're more than four years on from Covid. However, for the Manx residents who were made to quarantine in the Comis Hotel in April and May 2020 the process of being refunded for their time there is just now getting underway. It was a recommendation from the Kate Brunner review into the Isle of Man Government's handling of the Covid pandemic.   It cost people...

Tynwald has approved the Department of Education, Sport and Culture's response to an independent review of funding for schools. The report set out a series of recommendations which looked to improve schools' funding formula, conduct a full of additional educational needs and introduce efficiency metrics to reduce the number of full time teachers in secondary settings. It received strong scrut...

The Island Games will return to Manx shores in 2029.  The International Island Games Association (IIGA) confirmed the next event in 2027, will be hosted by the Faroe Islands. It's planned to take place between 3-9 July 2027. Meanwhile in 2029, the Island will host the 22nd Island Games on 14-20 July.  The IOM organised the first games in 1985 and then again in 2001.  Chair of the Is...

A group of residents in the Island’s capital who were ‘empowered’ to come together to take ownership of their village should be an example to others. That’s the view of a Douglas South MHK who has welcomed the sale of the freehold of the Saddle Mews complex. Sarah Maltby drafted a Private Members Bill that will support leaseholders to buy their freeholds so they can manage their own properties wit...

If you're out and about around the TT course tomorrow (Sat 13 July), you may see some cyclists taking part in a fundraiser with a difference. Capital International Group's Chairman, Anthony Long, and Managing Director of Group Services, Les Coates, are gearing up for a performance of a lifetime, as they embody the legend himself, Elvis Presley... all whilst riding a tandem bike. Siobhán Fletc...

Douglas clothing store The Boredroom is asking people on the Island to fill out a questionnaire to help it understand 'what's going on in terms of retail' here. In a post on social media the Strand Street store says 'retail is hard over here and it's getting harder to keep the doors open, especially with the increase in cost for everything'. It adds 'it's increasingly feeling like we're climbing a...

Douglas South MHK Sarah Maltby has been a woman on a mission to get accessible changing places installed at key sites across the Island. She's raised the issue multiple times in the House of Keys and has again put pressure on politicians this week. Now though, a new changing places facility in Noble's Hospital has officially been given the green light! The trustees have agreed to fund the roo...

A pay increase for police officers on the Island is hoped to help tackle recruitment and retention issues for the force. The starting salary for constables has seen a 12 percent increase to over £32,000. Justice and Home Affairs Minister Jane Poole-Wilson told Amy Griffiths she's hopeful it will help relieve the pressures on junior officers:

An MHK says she's going to continue pushing for the public to have their say on whether the Isle of Man should legalise assisted dying. The House of Keys spent a seventh day debating clauses of the proposed Bill yesterday, and a special sitting is taking place on 23 July for its third reading. Last week, members rejected calls for a public referendum with just a one vote majority. Sian Cowper has...

A Douglas MHK who is 'contacted weekly' about accessible changing places says she might as well go back to those inquiring and tell them government feels that the amenities are not worth investing in. Sarah Maltby raised the issue in the House of Keys this week. And it's not the first time - she's been asking questions about a possible facility in the Sea Terminal since 2022. W...

Willaston Primary School in Douglas has been awarded an IQM - Inclusion Quality Mark Award. It's also been granted Centre of Excellence status, something which typically takes a number of years to achieve. The assessor from IQM noted a 'strong commitment to inclusivity and community' and a 'caring ethos'. Abbie Irving, a teacher at Willaston School, co-ordinated the self-audit and managed the asse...

The clauses stage of the Assisted Dying Bill heads into a seventh day in the House of Keys today. So how much work if left to be done? And what happens next? Mover of the bill, Ramsey MHK Alex Allinson, gave an update live on Manx Radio Breakfast.

Last night's Southern 100 qualifying session had to be cut short due to capacity issues at Noble's Hospital. Manx Care's Executive Director of Health Services Oliver Radford discusses the factors that meant the session had to be stopped, and what the situation is for the remainder of the event:

The Isle of Man could fail to meet its first interim climate target, but the chief minister says if it is missed, "we'll be very close". At a summit of the British-Irish Council, Alfred Cannan said hitting the 2030 target is becoming "increasingly tight". The Climate Change Act 2021 sets out three legally binding targets as the Island makes its journey to net-zero. By 2030, government is required...

Do you think children should be allowed to have their own smartphones? One mum from Ramsey says she wants to start a conversation about them. Meghan Kennish has two children and is worried about the potential harm it can cause when you have access to a smartphone from a young age. She's been telling Amy Griffiths why:

The chief minister has congratulated Sir Kier Starmer and the Labour Party on their victory in the UK General Election. Labour won by a landslide, with the Conservatives suffering their biggest defeat in history. Alfred Cannan spoke with Sian Cowper and Ben Hartley on Manx Radio Breakfast shortly after 8am this morning (5 July, Tynwald Day).

An historic 35th Tour de France stage win for Sir Mark Cavendish is "earth shattering for the Isle of Man", according to the woman who first introduced him to the sport. Yesterday the Manx Missile became the all-time greatest stage winner at the event. It surpasses the previous record he'd jointly held with cycling legend Eddie Merckx. Dot Tilbury says it's an incredible achievement:

A Manx charity is working '9 to 5' to get a special initiative up and running on the Island. Dolly Parton's Imagination Library is a gifting program that posts free books to children, from birth to age five, no matter their family's income. There are hopes the scheme could be successfully launched here helping youngsters to build their own library of 60 books. Charity Director Trish McDonough &nbs...

Manx Care is insisting that drafting in a private provider to run the publicly owned Summerhill View residential care home in Douglas, is a "really good value solution." However, it's refused to disclose how much the contract awarded to LV Care Group is worth or how many other providers tendered for the opportunity. It's estimated the state-of-the-art facility, which cost just under £15 million to...

Unloved family heirlooms in your attic may be worth more than you think

It's a week since the new Liverpool Ferry Terminal came into operation. It's opening was years later than hoped and it came with a price-tag millions of pounds beyond the original budget. So, how's it faring?  In this episode of Newscast, Lewis Foster sits down with Steam Packet Managing Director Brian Thomson and Infrastructure Minister Tim Crookall, who says there have been some 'snagging i...

A bid to have a referendum on assisted dying proposals may have been defeated, but an MHK is still keen to see the Island's referendum laws updated. Douglas Central member Chris Thomas has been granted permission to work on a Private Members' Bill which would introduce new referendum laws. He told Manx Radio's Sian Cowper why:

A taxi driver has reiterated his concerns about anti-social behaviour during the nighttime trade three months after fares were increased. In April the Roads Transport Licensing Committee announced rates would be going up and the late-night higher rate, of Tariff 2, would start an hour earlier at 11pm. At the time Barry Murphy told Manx Radio he believed it would leave drivers subject to abuse - in...

Efforts are underway to raise awareness for a condition which only affects around 300 people on the Isle of Man.  Today marks the start of Haemochromatosis Awareness Week.  The condition causes iron levels in the body to slowly build up over many years; symptoms can include fatigue, depression and joint pain. Sufferer, Carolanne Hanley told Manx Radio more about the condit...

Manx Radio's Political Correspondent has the full run down of what happened during June's sitting of Tynwald