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?

DoI Minister Michelle Haywood certainly seem in a hurry to get things done and bring about significant change to our lives. With government’s record for speed being noteworthy primarily for its absence you’d imagine the Minister’s drive and determination might be welcomed as a breath of fresh air?! She’s certainly succeeded in dividing public opinion but is she out of her depth or boldly taking on the controversial issues that others have feared to tackle.

With the sad news of the death of Pat Bridson, one of the radical nationalist politicians who helped develop Mec Vannin in the 1960s and 70s to become a credible political force I took the opportunity to catch up with two of her colleagues, Bernard Moffatt and Allan Bell. Pride in the place you live and a desire to develop Manx solutions to Manx problems has become quite a normal part of political discourse these days but sixty years ago this was seen as quite a radical philosophy. Any chance that we’ll hear glowing tributes on previous government’s from Bernard? Well … prepare to be shocked!

What message lies at the heart of the Isle of Man Government? Is it a tax and spend government spending all our hard earned savings, or is it a government that takes a more cautious approach to spending and sees income growth as a product of a growing economy? Government’s Our Island Plan had some bold ambition but is it being delivered? There’s one man who should know the answer to these questions and that’s Chief Minister Alf Cannan and he talks to Perspective. Are the promises of jam tomorrow being spread a little too thinly on the Manx political jam butty?

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?

After a decade away from home, Palestinian journalist and film-maker, Yousef Alhelou travelled back to Gaza to reconnect with the people and places of his childhood. His intention was to make a documentary film, which would reveal the hidden beauties, joys, and treasures of Gaza. The footage taken during his two months trip would become some of the final records of the cultural, social and recreational life of the besieged and blockaded enclave prior to its destruction by Israel following the Hamas attrocities on 7th October 2023. Yousef’s sister and her seven children were killed on 10th December 2023 by an Israeli strike on their home. They remain buried under rubble. 

Douglas North MHK John Wannenburgh is approaching the end of his fourth year as a national politician. He’s Chair of the Manx Utilities Authority which unlike its private sector UK counterparts is pretty good at supplying us with water and, with the exception of Peel and Laxey, has a generally good record of disposing the sewage we produce without polluting the environment. John talks to Perspective about his role at the MUA as well as reflecting on the state of Manx politics. With new sewage treatment works at Peel and Garff in the pipeline is the MUA flushed with success?

Fed up with the shabby state of some parts of the Island? Dismayed by the grot and litter you pass daily? Angered by potholes or the decaying nature of our Island’s infrastructure? Well what are you going to do about it? That’s the challenge set by the Destination First Board whose remit is to significantly improve the look of our Island and to motivate us all to get involved in making the Island a better place. Find out more about the work of the Board on Perspective. Rather than just moaning about the state of the Island why not join the happy band of caped crusaders with a litter picker in one hand and a paint brush in the other and make the Island a better place?

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?

The Manx Wildlife Trust has announced a new project to restore a Manx rainforest at Glen Auldyn thanks to the Wildlife Trusts’ long-term partnership with Aviva. At 1,124 acres – with 750 acres suitable for rainforest habitat – it is the largest plantable area to enter the Wildlife Trusts’ rainforest recovery programme so far and will be the biggest nature reserve in the Island. Guests on Perspective sometimes struggle to see the wood from the trees ….. which in this case is probably a good thing!