Podcasts about Tynwald

The Bishop's vote in Legislative Council and Tynwald may disappear, hear opinion and views both for and against plus it's Bonfire Night so watch out for hedgehogs tonight. It's Mannin Line with Andy Wint - Wednesday 5th November 2025

Chamber of Commerce on the economy, non-smart meter reading charge, new living wage reaction, Bishop's vote in Tynwald latest, our pollution figures & possible VAT reductions. It's Mannin Line with Andy Wint - Monday 3rd November 2025

The Government's Transport Strategy was considered by Tynwald last month and while there was no request for it to be supported it was merely noted by our politicians. Where does leave the strategy if it's not supported by Tynwald? Also why did Tynwald pick one of the highest year's for green house gas emissions as the base line on which future emissions reductions are referenced? Has Tynwald done a disservice to itself in not acknowledging significant impacts of previous political actions to reduce climate harming emissions? Is our transport strategy on a road to nowhere and should emissions reduction targets be allowed to go up in smoke?

The latest from the Steam Packet after a 'chaotic' sailing from Liverpool to Douglas leaves some passengers injured and vehicles damaged.Reaction from businesses after Tynwald approves a rise in the minimum wage.And the Western Vikings rugby club has issued an urgent appeal for new players.

The Area Plan for the North and West was defeated by three votes in last week's Tynwald sitting and while it remains possible that it could scrape through in the November sitting it will require all of Cabinet Office Minister David Ashford's political guile to make that happen. So why has it failed? On Agenda this week Chris Thomas and Paul Craine explain what their concerns are and even the Treasury Minister acknowledges weaknesses in the process. With no plan B, defeat of the plan means the north and west are relying on plans now several decades old. Is Tynwald playing high stakes poker with our planning system?

October Tynwald highlights this week. Questions pondered how people will cope when the MiCard system is scrapped and whether the Manx economy is in recession. A new Child First Policy was received by Tynwald and there was unanimous support for a call to introduce a comprehensive program of neurodiversity training in Manx schools.

Manx Radio's Christian Jones will be reporting live from the Chamber on the third day of questions and debate since Tynwald returned following the summer recessThere are changes to next year's Classic TT programme - Rob Pritchard will be explaining the differencesAnd the Police respond after Manx Radio questioned elderly people yesterday if they feel safe walking the Island's streets at night

The Enterprise Minister's apologised to hoteliers for comments he made during July's sitting of TynwaldMeanwhile,the Health Minister's also saying sorry for inaccuracies in a Tynwald response regarding Ramsey's Minor Injury Unit.And Treasury's being urged to ensure those who use the MiCard system can still obtain their funds once it closes down.It's Update on Manx Radio with Dave Moore for Wednesday, 22 October.

Tynwald returns after a three months recess - we recap the main talking points from the opening day of October's sitting.And Manx.Net e-mail users will no longer be able to use the service for free from next year.All that and more on Update on Manx Radio with Dave Moore.

Internet problems today from AWS, Tynwald back soon, minimum wage v living wage, Axnfell Plantation meeting on Wednesday, 'Pay It Forward' café charity scheme & that Simcocks Area Plan letter. It's Mannin Line with Andy Wint - Monday 20th October 2025

Tynwald's Environment and Infrastructure Committee held an evidence session with officers from the MUA last week and there were several revelations which should be of interest to us all. A thousand Manx households are contributing 7 megawatts of renewable energy to the Manx grid and the MUA is working closely with private sector renewable energy projects in the south and north of the Island. So what does this mean for future energy production for the Isle of Man? Has government been too focussed on renewable energy production and not clear enough in helping the MUA understand future energy usage. The vital sparks at the MUA reveal all.

Liberal Vannin Party leader and former health minister Lawrie Hooper leads a somewhat lonely life as the only Liberal Vannin member in Tynwald. As a party of one he recognises his influence is limited but feels passionately that party politics is the best way to ensure our politicians are held accountable for their actions. Could party politics work for us? I guess Lawrie will need to lead more than just himself to demonstrate that to us.

A new women-only running group has been launched to tackle catcalling and harassment.MPs return to Westminster next week, but MHKs aren't back until October - one Tynwald member says Manx politicians are away for too long.The domestic football season kicks off tomorrow - we'll have the teams to look out for.

Bashing government handling of public sector pensions used to be top of the list for wannabe MHKs looking for an easy vote winning target so what if anything has changed? The deficit between contributions and payments will be around £48 million this year that's slightly less than the net spend for the Department of Infrastructure so it remains a substantial sum but the Public Sector Pensions Authority argue that the Tynwald approved plan is getting this spending under control. Are gold plated government pensions really a thing of the past? It seems so.

Junior Tynwald included some searching questions about 20mph zones, health spending and government spending on water and electricity infrastructure. On Agenda we'll hear these questions and those we've not yet squeezed in to previous programs. We also hear from Speaker of the House of Keys Juan Watterson - a former Junior Tynwald member on the importance of this annual sitting and what Tynwald members get up to when sittings stop for the summer recess. Keys members do like to be beside the seaside but they've got plenty of hefty committee reports as their holiday reading.

Junior Tynwald sat last month and as we heard on last week's Agenda it was a very thoughtful and well considered sitting. On Agenda this week we hear the debate on a motion which considered what can be done to counter the dangers of social media. We also hear from some of students who took part and one of their teachers. It's been a real privilege to cover Junior Tynwald and good to know that I've got competition with Olivia and Ellie from QE2 keen to take on my job covering senior Tynwald.

Junior Tynwald provided some lively debates which we're covering on Agenda as well as some excellent questioning by Junior Tynwald members of Ministers and Department members. Manx Radio was there to record the whole sitting and on Perspective this week we'll hear the first 50 minutes of the hour and eight minute long question time. Questions covered housing, tax, education, health and the environment and the questioners did a great job in pinning down the government. Well worth listening to these promising political prospects for the future.

Junior Tynwald sat last month and a very interesting, thoughtful and at times provocative sitting it was too. A motion which considered whether wind turbines should form an essential part of the Island's future energy supply was amended by students who expressed concern that the potential damage to biodiversity and habits should be considered alongside any benefits of using this renewable energy source. Good to know that a new generation of potential politicians clearly have a passion for Manx politics.

July Tynwald still has a few treasurers to squeeze out including an impassioned speech from Sarah Maltby in which she called on Tynwald members to stop just singing about our Green Hills by the Sea and actually do something to protect and maintain the public rights of way that allow us access to some of the most beautiful countryside in these islands. We also catch up on some of the questions and answers that began the mammoth four day sitting. Prepare to have your heart stirred by Sarah Maltby's call for action. Will it make the difference that she's hoping for? You know what …. it might!

Still catching up on July Tynwald highlights we've got questions from Jason Moorhouse, an answer from John Wannenburgh on the delays in getting a planning application submitted for the Earystane windfarm. Also Rob Callister and Michelle Haywood consider how Tynwald members should pay for their parking, agreeing that they should but disagreeing on how the recent request for payment missed out senior civil servants. A parking storm in a teacup and a windfarm answer that appears to be blowin' in the wind.

July Tynwald was not only a lengthy affair but also jam packed with interesting debates. On Perspective this week we hear from Ministers Barber, Caine and Poole-Wilson about a lack of success in meeting carbon reduction, possible efficiencies and improvements in education and an A star for the Chief Constable's report. Chris Thomas gives a D minus to Tynwald for not allowing him to move a debate on a significant change in housing policy and Joney Faragher led a very thoughtful debate on the position the Isle of Man should take on international law. A not to be missed Tynwald super summer special - well … if you're a political nerd like me at least.

The North American Manx Association makes annual awards of silver medals for outstanding contributions to Manx culture and community by young people, and the Department of Education makes two awards for the Manx language. We hear this year's ceremony for the presentation of awards with Daphne Caine MHK and President of Tynwald, Laurence Skelly.

Lack of available apprenticeships, Ramsey Swing Bridge neglect, Net Zero targets, cost of green electricity, Ørsted offshore project & Amnesty International IOM on the Tynwald letter. It's Mannin Line with Andy Wint - Wednesday 23rd July 2025

A near eight year campaign by a mum whose son tragically lost his life concluded in last week's Tynwald when a law that makes it easier for people to donate their organs was brought into force. Campaigner Diane Taylor and former MHK Martyn Perkins tell of their pride in finally seeing this through. We also hear Speaker of the House of Keys Juan Watterson's view on the Health overspend and minimum wage and Health Minister Claire Christian explains what her department and Manx Care are doing to turn around the Island's health finances

If Lawrie Hooper has read the book “How to win friends and influence people” it would appear he disagrees with its core premise. Indeed he seemed to be itching for a fight including with his own shadow during an at times tetchy Tynwald. You've heard the headlines but on Perspective you can hear the full Hooper interview together with responses from some of the Ministers he had his sights on. It would appear that as the election looms the next 12 months could be filled with lively political exchanges. The question we'll need to answer on election day next year is do we favour rhetoric over actual results?

Three new commissioners, Manx language project grant, abandoned vehicles at Tesco, Little Shop Of Horrors praise, Tynwald's war crimes letter, David's got solar panels & Betty's got Bluetooth. It's Mannin Line with Andy Wint - Friday 18th July 2025

Here's the news roundup for Tuesday, including how Tynwald dealt with Daniel's Law and the latest from the Island Games in Orkney.

Here's your news roundup for Monday - including the very latest from Tynwald and the Island Games in Orkney.

There's a saying that if you want a job doing ask a busy man. Well, David Ashford seems to be the man to ask as he's taking the Safeguarding (Amendment) Bill 2025 through Keys, is taking four pieces of legislation through Tynwald relating to the Human Tissue and Organ Donation Act 2021, he's got the Cabinet Office Department Plan to move as well as the Council of Ministers Update Report on Inward Migration. So what does all that mean in relation to our lives. Is government so busy being busy that it hasn't got time to get anything done?

Fiona McArdle introduces a programme with items about the Sophia Morrison Award, Tynwald, Culture Vannin's Treisht26 project, which will feed into Blein ny Gaelgey, the Year of the Manx Language 2026. We hear from Breesha Maddrell, Ruth Keggin Gell and Phil Gawne.

John Moss takes a look at the history of the ancient Tynwald Ceremony at St John's.

The Isle of Man, or Manx, is a self-governing dependency of the United Kingdom, located between Great Britain and Ireland, and has been influenced by the cultures of both. It's known for being an offshore tax haven and a centre for gambling companies. It also has the oldest continuously-running parliament, the Tynwald, which is claimed to be over 1000 years old. There is also the Manx tongue, a Celtic language spoken by little over 2000 people, but which has undergone a recent revival.With a population of around 80,000, it is perhaps a surprise to find a Manxer on another island on the other side of the world. It was Ellie's love of boats and sailing that drew her away from the Isle of Man, first with a a sailing adventure across the Atlantic, then 6 months sailing around the Pacific. Her first contact with Tasmania though came through a circumnavigation of Australia on the tall ship the Endeavour . It wasn't until years later, when Ellie became pregnant with her second child, that her and her Australian partner, made the decision that Tasmania would be the place they would settle and raise their children, and it's been a decision that Ellie hasn't regretted.Music used in this episode is in the Manx language and is used under Creative Commons from Culture Vannin -https://culturevannin.im/manxfolklore... . Culture Vannin exists to promote, supportand celebrate the culture of the Isle of Man.

On last week's Agenda Lawrie Hooper called out government for requiring higher pay for migrant workers than Manx workers but was he right? The Treasury Minister doesn't think so and he puts his case to Agenda. Mr Hooper also suggested he would pull his Tynwald motion on releasing more detail about school assessments if the Education Minister conceded an improved position. The motion wasn't moved so Agenda asks the Minister what did she do to pacify Mr Hooper. Is a war of words developing in Ramsey between the town's MHKs?

On first glance June Tynwald's Order Paper looked to offer little opportunity for political excitement. As it turned out there was plenty to exercise our MHKs, increasingly mindful of the 2026 general election. There were questions about the quality of child care and protection, was political messaging around the TT adequate, should we consider whether things are ethically okay and not just legally sound, securing funding for the family library was discussed as was the law governing employment of children. All this will be summarised in this week's Perspective. And why does LegCo keep giving the Education Minister a hard time - perhaps cake would win them over?

Here's Tuesday main news wrapped up in a half hour bundle for you - including the very latest on the Family Library after it was debated in Tynwald.

A few May Tynwald leftovers on Agenda this week. Some conflicting views on the 20mph zones proposed for the Island. What was Ann Corlett MHK looking for when she first raised the subject in Tynwald? DoI Minister Michelle Haywood MHK offered a consultation olive branch which some members were loathe to accept. And how an innocent little question on economic growth developed into a full blown warts and all debate. No angsty engine revving on this week's show, just a gentle tour through the speed limit question.

May Tynwald was a little shorter than recent sittings but there was a lot packed in. Despite Tynwald and government talking for years about funding solutions for the mobile and family library the threat of its imminent closure was back on the agenda. Members all agreed that something must be done but nobody seemed willing to take responsibility for solving the problem. There was also discussion on immigration policy and a tense debate on the political spat between Lawrie Hooper and the Chief Minister. Tynwald seems to be becoming quite factional as the 2026 election approaches …. I wonder why that could be?

An update on today's main news, including the top Tynwald debates and movement on the sewage treatment works in Peel.

Chief Minister Alfred Cannan has returned to the Island after a top level meeting inDowning Street.What's the latest with the Family Library? We have an update from Tynwald, the sitting forMay getting underway this morning. And we'll also find out how a new senior leadership team at Isle of Man Meats plans to'improve' relations with the Island's food producers.All that and more on Manx Radio Update for Tuesday, 20 May.

April's Tynwald sitting spilled into a rare third day, largely due to a mammoth debate on Manx Care's Mandate and Operating Plan.In this episode, Christian Jones reflects on some of the key talking points, offering context and insight along the way.We also take a closer look at concerns over a potential constitutional flaw: is the government too powerful in political sittings, with an automatic majority in certain cases?

We continue to digest the results of the Local Authority Elections, after multiple political veterans made a comeback.The chief minister is facing calls to withdraw remarks, after a Standards Committee investigation found he made ‘unacceptable' comments in Tynwald.The Isle of Man men's national football team returns to action ahead of this summer's Island Games.

A mammoth debate has been held in Tynwald over the Manx Care Mandate.We hear all about government's new ‘child first' policy.And Isle Listen tell us all about its upcoming Dodgeball Championships.All of that and more on Manx Radio's Update with Lewis Foster for Thursday, 24 April.

April's sitting of Tynwald got underway today and it was all health, housing… and horse trams!We cover the latest updates from the Island's parliament.And it looks like Heysham Port is about to get a makeover!All of that and more on Update for Tuesday, 22 April with Lewis Foster.

March Tynwald appeared to hold much promise with both the health overspend and the Manx Care Mandate and Operating Plan looking set to dominate proceedings. In the end neither were discussed due to Tynwald niceties and procedural matters but this allowed members to focus on some of other matters - not least the update to our Island Plan. Chris Thomas likened Ministerial cheerleading for the plan to support given by communist leaders to similar plans from the soviet union but was that fair? Tynwald seemed full of excited talk this week - must be an election on the not too distant horizon.

Manx Care's Mandate was supposed to be on Tynwald's Agenda last week but despite the Minister's best endeavours the debate didn't happen. The Minister remains eager to hear the views of politicians, patients and medical professionals so she's in for a treat on this episode of Agenda. The Isle of Man Medical Society had plenty to say about the Mandate and Drs Crerand and Prakash explain why. This is the second time in as many months I've interviewed the Drs - maybe I need to eat more apples?

- Tynwald members have voted to postpone a motion asking for £20 million pounds additional cash for health spending.- A legal expert known as 'Mr Loophole' gives his views on the Island's new 20mph zones- And 7-time TT winner Michael Rutter shares one of his favourite memories as he steps away from the Superbike class

It's been a few weeks now since we talked about LegCo but Onchan MHK Julie Edge has prompted Agenda back to the topic as she has a motion in Tynwald calling for the role of Members of the Legislative Council and the method of their election to be reformed. So what is this all about and what's provoked Ms Edge to seek such reforms? Has Julie Edge been playing politics with her questions on cancer care and is she right to suggest UK government health reforms should see an end to Manx Care being independent from the Health Department?

- The Royal College of Nursing are moving a step closer to industrial action over pay with the majority of members backing a strike- Meanwhile, Manx Care's issued a statement over the Great North Air Ambulance Service- Three of the Island's cancer charities are due to protest outside next Tuesday's sitting of Tynwald 

- As the issue over cancer screenings rumbles on there looks as if there will be a lengthy debate in Tynwald next week- A local politician's claiming the Government is behind on its delivery of the island plan- There's advice on what to do if you suspect you've received a scam message regarding a parcel delivery

The treasury minister explains why he'll be asking Tynwald to approve an additional £20 million for the health service, despite it only overspending by £15.8 million.What's happening with the Newson's site in Douglas?There's an uplift on the number of cruise ships penned to visit the Isle of Man this summer.