Perspective - Manx Radio

How do you catch up on the latest skeet? Via regulated media such as Manx Radio or Isle of Man Newspapers which have a duty to report in a balanced and fair way or through the internet and social media which have much less responsibility to offer truth or impartiality? Is this really what lies at the heart of the recent attempt by government to clip the wings of internet publisher Isle of Man TV o...

They say a week is a long time in politics and what a week we’ve just had. Tynwald members were queuing up to talk to me about everything from internal bullying, lack of confidence in the government and is the Chief Minister the right person to continue to lead the Isle of Man into the sunny future land of promise. July Tynwald always seems to produce fiery debates  and hot heads but ad...

Worried about sky high energy prices? Concerned that over reliance on undersea cables and pipelines is a major risk to our energy supplies in these very troubled and uncertain times we live? Well Energy and Sustainability Centre Isle of Man Directors Ralph Peake and Dave Quirk might well have the answers you’re looking for. Are they right in dismissing Crogga gas and thermal energy as at bes...

This week we take a trip into the archives to revisit a special programme originally broadcast at the end of 1979 – looking back at a number of the events that took place across the Isle of Man, as we celebrated 1000 years of Tynwald. “A Review of Our Millennium Year” was presented by Ian Cannell.

After a brutal assessment by Manx businesses on the likelihood of Government delivering its ambitious economic strategy Perspective explores the reasons why business has so little faith in government and what needs to be done for Ministers to restore confidence. 93% of respondents to the Chamber of Commerce survey were not convinced that government would deliver on their bold rhethoric, but just o...

Another Tynwald ‘dog’s dinner’ on Perspective this week with a bit of everything thrown in from June Tynwald. Treasury assures us that we don’t have a public finance crisis, the Chief Minister assures us that plans to stimulate the economy are working, government understands your pain when it comes to the airport failures, and good news is just around the corner if you&rsqu...

Do we have a public finance crisis? You could have been fooled into thinking everything’s fine if you read the Treasury Plan which is going to this week’s Tynwald. Is government’s boldness being hindered by an overly cautious Tynwald? What steps can be taken to bring the over six thousand empty properties back in to use? Should we pay more tax, reduce government services or just...

On Perspective this week MHKs Joney Faragher and Daphne Caine ponder the slow pace with which successive governments deliver meaningful change to our lives. Remember the housing crisis on which budding MHKs cut their teeth at the last election? Has there been any meaningful progress or is it warm words and jam tomorrow? And what about the Climate crisis? Is the Climate Change Transformation Board...

On 29th May 1940 the Isle of Man Steam Packet vessel Mona’s Queen 3 was sunk by an enemy mine while attempting a second evacuation of soldiers from Dunkirk. Eighty three years later the story of the vessel and her crew is still remembered in Port St Mary and on Perspective this week we find out why. Why was the heroic endeavour of so many Manxmen not suitably recognised at the time? What dro...

Earlier this week Beach Buddies organised a Southern 100 course clean up with a team of volunteers led by charity founder Bill Dale. Beach Buddies was established seventeen years ago and has certainly captured Manx and indeed global attention with its important work. Why do we need charities like Beach Buddies, and perhaps answering that question why do so many people choose the leave litter aroun...

Now that legal matters surrounding the Dr Ranson tribunal are drawing to a close the President of Tynwald gave members a much freer rein to debate the matter. This resulted in a much more open discusion in Tynwald and on Perspective we hear from former Health Minister David Ashford and Chief Minister Alf Cannan. We also hear from Tim Glover MHK who resigned from his departmental roles in disgust a...

On Perspective this week we gauge reaction to the Dr Ranson payout and the Chief Minister’s statement to the House of Keys on the matter.  Claire Christian MHK demands that the independent assessment suggested by the Chief Minister includes the Attorney General’s Chambers, Politicians, not just the Department of Health and Social Care, Chris Robertshaw calls for radical change and...

Tynwald leftovers for Perspective this week covering a range of issues from parking charges to credit cards, stealth taxes to safer streets. Claire Christian MHK gives us her take on the handling of an appeal into the Ranson affair. What would a consultation on parking charges tell us other than we’d rather not pay? Are credit cards for Manx people a thing of the past? Do you want safer stre...

On Perspective this week we talk Credit Cards, tax and spend, stealth taxes, threats to teachers and health workers, casino licences and much much more. Grandfather of Tynwald, Bill Henderson MLC is joined by MHKs David Ashford and Tim Glover in a lively discusion on several key political issues. Can we afford to carry on spending so much of our reserves when attempts to boost government’s i...

Moreblessing Pedhuru has recently arrived in the Island and is supporting a project to assist women in Zambia who find themselves in difficult circumstances. Liz Charter and Tim Earl gave a presentation to a packed audience about Birds of the Gambia last week and they are also raising funds for a project which supports people in the Gambia. It’s really inspiring to hear from Liz, Tim and Mor...

A new service has been launched by Manx Care to help the 350 adults with ME and the 1,000+ with Long Covid. ME or Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome, is a disabling and complex illness and prior to the new service being launched there was minimal support available for people living with the condition. Finally there is some good news for people struggling with this co...

On Perspective this week we hear from some of the students who took part in the One World Centre’s Charity Challenge. We also hear the heart warming stories of the Ballakermeen High School team all of whom have moved to the Island from countries with different cultures and languages. The Charity Challenge aims to help secondary school students get a better understanding of the many challenge...

This month’s Tynwald was perhaps the most emotionally charged sitting for a generation. From Rob Callister’s sacking, drag queens, housing, Road Tax, and a culture of fear in the civil service through to sharing the load in relation to public toilets, it’s fair to say we had the full range of Manx political discourse. What did the Chief Minister make of it all? Was Kerry Sharpe r...

How transparent is Manx politics? Manx Tax Payers Alliance spokesman Michael Josem called out unsuccessful LegCo candidate Gary Clueit for not being open about a £250 donation he made to one MHK’s election campaign. In response, Gary Clueit has questioned who are the mystery backers of the Tax Payers Alliance. Does money influence the way we think and vote? Is the Isle of Man too small...

Perspective this week is the LegCo hustings part two. Manx Radio recorded the meeting organised by the Liberal Vannin party a few weeks ago and with the LegCo election just days away we hear for the final time the thoughts and views of the MLC hopefuls. There are some cracking questions and one or two surprising answers so well worth a listen.  By this time next week hopefully all four availa...

On Perspective this week we hear from the candidates for the forthcoming legislative council election. The LegCo hustings was organised by the Liberal Vannin party and held at the Legion Hall in Douglas. In this first of two parts we find out who the candidates are and how they respond to questions from the public who attended this open event. Some probing questions and fascinating answers from th...

Another brace of LegCo candidates on Perspective with Brian Brumby former president of the Manx National Farmers Union up first followed by semi-retired engineer Gary Clueit. Both candidates speak with passion but are they capable of providing the scrutiny, support and leadership the Island needs to solve the problems we’re facing?  While you don’t get to choose your LegCo members...

A Legislative Council special on Perspective this week with Dawn Kinnish presenting her case to become one of our representatives in LegCo and  …  in a program of two halves we also have young pretender Conor Keenan who’s trying for a second time to win a LegCo place. Two more candidates adding to the four we’ve already heard from in recent weeks and the only thing the...

Perspective’s menu this week is looking particularly tasty with bread, fish and chips, curries, steaks, some beer and ice cream for pudding. Food and hospitality businesses having been struggling with one crisis after another to deal with over several years. So how are they coping, what support are they getting from government and what are they hoping for in this month’s budget? Are Ma...

As interest in the Legislative Council election begins to hot up, we hear from another wannabe member of LegCo Tanya August Hanson MLC. Ms August Hanson was elected to LegCo 5 years ago so what has she been doing and why does she think her work warrants another five year term? What do you expect from people in our parliament’s second chamber? Should they be seen and not heard, or do you expe...