Agenda - Manx Radio

Our Biosphere is ten years old and to celebrate there was a fascinating lecture on how stories, song, and language connect us to each other and to the living systems which keep us alive! Dr Mairi McFadyen explained how stories, songs, language and local traditions hold a wealth of knowledge about the places we live in. Dr McFadyen speaks to this week’s Agenda. Her work offers a timely and inspiring reflection on the deep connections between language, culture and environment – highlighting how the Manx language and cultural traditions are rooted in a more sustainable future for the Island and our UNESCO Biosphere.

We’ll be hearing lots of talk of bold ambition and collective vision in the coming weeks and months but will the new government deliver on their strategies and promises. The Ard Shirveishagh has picked a team which covers the range of political views in the new House of Keys but will he be able to provide the leadership needed to mould those disparate political outlooks into a cohesive political force. How long will the post electoral honeymoon last for the new Thomas administration before marital differences rise to the surface? Only time will tell.

The Chief Minister election takes place tomorrow and on this evening’s Agenda the proposers of the two candidates explain why they’re backing the Jenkins or Thomas camp. What are our new MHKs looking for from the new government? Can we finally break the cycle of electing new faces to the same old government? Will cynical realism eventually dampen the bright (perhaps naive) optimism of the members and their Chief Minister candidates. I really hope not but if it was easy surely we’d already be living in the sunny unicorn infested uplands?

With immigration a big concern on the door step and dramatically falling birth rates the next government faces a difficult challenge even to maintain current population levels. The previous administration very briefly talked about a target population of a hundred thousand by 2035 but was that ever realistic or even desirable? Previous government’s have relied on population growth to fuel the economy and grow taxes but will that be possible with falling birth rates across Europe and a backlash against immigration? We’ll find out tomorrow who want to be the next Chief Minister and lets hope they realise what they’re letting themselves in for. We certainly need an exceptional leader to get us through the challenges that lie ahead.

A number of our new MHKs have spoken about their business experience and how that will help them as newly elected MHKs. Are there transferable skills between business and politics and how will these shape the future direction of our government? There’s a lot to learn about how to be a successful MHK but much of that learning takes place on the doorstep during canvassing. Knowing what your electorate thinks and doing your best to represent them is the key to success in the Keys. Sounds simple doesn’t it ..?

Election Day is fast approaching and we all have a big decision to take. We’ve had the manifestos and we’ve heard the interviews and hustings but how do we choose the best people to lead our Island to a brighter future? When does the planning start for a new Chief Minister and new government and will a new leader emerge with no Keys experience? So much to consider on this week's Agenda . While the election intensity will disappear overnight, the next few weeks will lock in place the direction of travel for our government for the next five years. We need to choose wisely on Thursday then trust our MHKs to get things right.

Agenda 24.8.26 - when is a housing crisis not a housing crisis and do we need a target population of 100,000 people?

Despite the hastily watered down rhetoric on a population target of a hundred thousand people that figure remains as a government ambition on which future planning is based. So why aren’t Keys candidates talking about it? Do they or don’t they support this aspiration? Is it even achievable when global demographers are predicting dramatic falls in population and deaths in the Isle of Man far exceed births? And whatever happened to the housing crisis? Was it real? If so why has so little be delivered to address it? Are our young people voting with their feet and abandoning thought of a life here?

Alistair Ramsay is back this week to discuss an issue not really mentioned so far in the election. Should rates and local government reform be higher up the political agenda? Why has every attempt so far failed to reform a Rates system which is generally regarded as outdated and unfair? Does anyone really know what local and central government are actually responsible for? Call me radical if you like but surely there needs to be a national debate on what we actually want local government to do? And who knows we might then finally get round to bringing our rusty rates system into the 21st century? … Maybe?

There will be eight Keys seats undefended at the general election one of which belongs to Arbory, Castletown and Malew MHK Tim Glover. He looks back on his five years in office, compares what he’s learned as an MHK with what he thought before he was elected and admits to some frustrations along the way. He gives good advice to wannabe MHKs and helps us the voters understand what’s reasonable to expect from our new political brooms. Do MHKs need thicker skins or should we all try to be more respectful of people in public life? The hide of a rhino helps I fear.

In the latest of our pre-election broadcasts we’re looking at tax. One way to fill the £100m gap in government finances would be to pay more tax, but what could a future government do to boost its income? Tax is seen by many as an inhibitor to the enterprise needed to grow our economy, so tax rises need to be considered very carefully. Find out more about Manx taxes on this week’s Agenda. Over several centuries lower tax and duties have been the cornerstone of Manx economic success but can we rely on that in the future? A very taxing conversation on this week’s show.