Unsurprisingly Manx Culture features high on my agenda, so I was delighted to visit the Culture Vannin HQ at St John’s this afternoon for their drop in session, and to spend some time talking with the team. There are lots of ideas I’d like to take forward if I’m successful, our intangible assets are a huge part of what makes the island special, and I want to see them valued, protected and promoted for future generations. Nominations for the election officially closed today so

A recent discussion on a local political facebook page raised the question of whether people should suddenly decide to become politicians because there is an election coming and a salary attached to the job. It’s a fair point, and one I actually agree with. Public service shouldn’t start on nomination day. In my case, it certainly didn’t. There is a difference between someone who decides to stand for election and someone who has spent years getting involved, campaigning, volu

And this evening I attended an excellent talk by Maria Bridson on immigration. It’s the second talk of hers I’ve attended, and I come away more frustrated each time. We need to be careful that this debate does not become an attack on the people who come here to work, contribute and make the Island their home, but government does need to take responsibility for the system it has created and the problems associated with those policies. We need people in government who are scann

I’ve had several conversations on the doorstep with people who have recently moved into the constituency or who don’t realise they are entitled to register to vote. If you have any doubts then please check. If you are heading off to Uni in September remember to apply for a postal vote before you go - form in the link https://elections.gov.im/media/i2jp3umq/arbory-castletown-and-malew-postal-vote-application-300726.pdf

This morning I took up the kind offer by Brian Thompson MD of Isle of Man Steam Packet to meet and raise some of the concerns I’ve been hearing about regarding connectivity and the cost of getting people and goods on and off the Island. He’s previously visited our family farm to discuss the cost pressures on the agricultural sector so it was nice to catch up again. The question I put to Brian at the start was a simple one: If you could ask the next Government to do one thing

I have campaigned alongside environmental experts to highlight concerns about the Cross Vein proposals. Those concerns have never been simply about opposing a solution to Peel’s contaminated silt — they are about making sure the right solution is found, and that our uplands are properly understood and protected. The decision by the Council of Ministers to overturn the Planning Committee and approve the scheme, dated 6 August — just days before the present House of Keys was di

I’ve spent the last two days at the Royal Manx Agricultural show talking to farmers and people involved in our rural economy. We cannot take our local food supply for granted. If we want a resilient island we need to support the people who produce our food. Thank you to everyone who took the time to stop and talk. I’ve listened and those conversations will feed directly into practical policies I want to take forward. https://www.facebook.com/share/v/18HRKuW8na/?mibextid=wwXIf

Constituents of Arbory, Castletown and Malew will have opportunities to hear from and put questions to their electoral candidates at the following pre-election meetings. Monday 7 September: Castle Rushen High School, 7pm Constituency meeting jointly organised by the Cabinet Office and the Captain of the Parish of Malew Tuesday 15 September: Arbory Parish Hall, 7pm Requisition meeting called by the Captain of the Parish of Arbory

Save you scrolling “Kirrie provided one of the most detailed and informed responses of any candidate. Having grown up on a farm and worked closely with environmental organisations, she repeatedly emphasised that farmers are "part of the solution" and that nature recovery must be delivered through partnership. She strongly supported 30 by 30, biodiversity net gain, better planning processes and stronger legal protections for nature. Kirrie also highlighted the value of Forest

Monday 31 August is the live constituency programme ahead of the 2026 General Election - you can register to be in the audience here: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/manxradio/2320238

It’s been another rewarding day door knocking in our constituency, both in Colby and Castletown, the weather certainly played its part with Castletown resembling the Riviera. While every area has its own character the same issues keep coming up. Take our schools for example, school drop-off and pick-up at Arbory School has been a problem for as long as I can remember – certainly since my own children attended the school. Despite years passing, the parking and traffic situatio

This morning I attended the Isle of Man Chamber of Commerce breakfast briefing. It was an insightful opportunity to hear directly from one of the Island’s leading business organisations about how they view the current state of our economy and the challenges facing businesses, and it gave me an opportunity to reconnect with key business stakeholders. Their presentation contained some sobering statistics: 🎯Treasury figures show the Island’s GDP fell by 7.4% in the two years to

This morning I took the time to chat with the protestors outside Tynwald. These are ordinary people - although many would say extraordinary - who have had their lives turned upside down by the proposed offshore wind farm, much like the residents at Earystane facing the proposed onshore development. They have devoted countless hours to researching the proposals, attending meetings, reading reports, and standing up for what they genuinely believe in. Too often those who raise

If you are interested in knowing a bit more about my approach the interview with Manx Radio is now available to view. https://youtu.be/1CCwIKWzHc4?si=_-1b8XZWQMDoQRYg

The in-person hearings for the Mooir Vannin Offshore Wind Farm application came to a close today. It has been a long and demanding week, but one that has brought significant issues surrounding the proposal into the open. The inquiries provided an important opportunity to scrutinise the evidence question the applicant, and ensure that local voices have been heard. Although the in-person hearings have now finished the inquiry itself is not over. There is still an opportunity to

In the UK transparency is spread across several platforms the ‘Theyworkforyou’ website helps people track how their MPs voted in Parliament while ‘ThePublicWhip’ provides detailed records of parliamentary votes; and the official UK Parliament website also allows the public to view MP’s voting records, speeches, and committee work. Together these services make it relatively easy to hold elected representatives to account. The new Isle of Man website ‘keydecisions.im’ although

One of the most interesting documents submitted during the latest Mooir Vannin examination is the “Without Prejudice Indicative Alternative Layout, which has appeared ahead of next weeks round of hearings. This is effectively the developer’s Plan B. The company makes it clear that it still wants approval for its original 1.4 GW proposal. However, recognising the strength of concerns raised during the examination, it has produced a smaller alternative that it says could be app

More than 5 years on Arbory & Rushen Parish Commissioners, including two terms as Chair, has taught me that good representation is about more than attending meetings or making promises. It is about doing the work: reading reports, analysing legislation, understanding the detail, listening to people and standing up for your community when it matters. A good example was the Local Government (Amendment) Bill. As Chair, I was concerned that a Clause inserted at the eleventh hour

Tynwald day is a reminder of who we are as a nation and the values that have shaped the Isle of Man for generations - community, fairness, openness and the belief that people should have a voice in the decisions that effect their lives. As someone born and raised in the south of the island, I’ve always felt strongly that our landscapes, our heritage and our communities are not things we simply inherit - we hold them in trust for future generations. Today was a powerful remind