d03f4472-b24c-4545-8c4c-d08288259241

31 newsdesk@iomtoday.co.im

ISLEOFMANEXAMINER

Tuesday, September 14, 2021 www.iomtoday.co.im

uestions

grandparents were only able to successfully integrate af- ter World War 2 with suffi- cient support. It’s not clear to me that we have sufficient Farsi and Pashto speakers, or specialisedmentalhealthsup- port, to integrate any Afghan refugees fleeing such awful trauma as inAfghanistan. LEGISLATION: A compre- hensive Animal Welfare Bill, basedonthe feedbackof local Manx stakeholders. GB PARTY: Conservative (orLiberalDemocrat,depend- ing on the constituency). BREXIT: Yes. KNEE: When I have rep-

islationnot determinepolicy. BISHOP: This is the remit of the Manx people, not poli- ticians, and would need to be decidedby a referendum. ABORTIONREFORM: Yes. EQUALMARRIAGE: Yes. ASSISTEDDYING: will be closely followingwhether the British Medical Profession (BMA) change its current ‘No’ positiononphysician-assisted dying in their vote inSeptem- ber 2021. YOUNG PEOPLE: We’ve already surveyed our young peoplemanytimesaboutwhat they need. Cheaper housing, a far more diversified economy andcheapertraveltoandfrom the island. There is no excuse for Tynwald not to deliver on all three of these issues in the next five years – and they are mymajor priorities. FIRST TIME BUYERS: We needtoanalysethisverycare- fully. Elements of all four of the suggestions in the ques- tionarenotoutofthequestion (except perhaps for the sec- ondhome owners one, where Iwouldperhapschangethatto ‘thirdhome owners’). I would also add to the list the need to create alternate investor op- tionsontheislandtohelpalle- viate thehousingcrisiswhich is exacerbating a major skills crisis that is nowseverely im- pacting the economy. SPEED LIMIT: No. I am in favour of farmoredriver edu- cation. AIRLINE: While the ‘open skies’ policy has been a disas- ter – I’d like to see long-term agreements signed with the budget airlines with agreed fare structures. CHIEF MINISTER: Possi- bly Alf Cannan – provided he has the guts to tackle the size, shape and scope of govern- ment. AFGHANS: I have a lot of empathy for the situation in Afghanistan and believe we shoulddowhatwecantohelp. However, taking refugees on Island might not necessarily be the best option. It might be wise to look at putting re- sources into other charities and aid agencieswho special- ise in this area where such fundingmight be able to help many more people sustaina- bly.Thisalsoincludeshelping those in other countries who arecurrentlyinsevereneedof aid such as Yemen andSyria. LEGISLATION: An Eco- nomicDiversification(Digital Economy) relatedbill–setting the tax and other rules ena- blingentrepreneursandcom- panies torapidlydiversifyour economy.WeneedMHKs that understandbusiness,finance andtechnology ifweare tore- allymove forwardwiththis in the next five years. GB PARTY: Currently, probably conservative – but I prefer to cherry pick the best ideas from all, which is why I amindependent. BREXIT:No,purelyforeco- nomic reasons. KNEE: Yes.

WRITER: Too many. Cur- rently, Sean Caroll (cosmol- ogy) HERO:RolyDrower(forhis political satire) MICHAELJOSEM Occupation:Businesslead- er and communityworker CARBON: Move to stop burning gas in the CCGT at Pulrose SOCIAL CARE: No: Manx Care advises that Health and Social Care spending is al- ready24%higher thanacross. We need to improve the value formoney thatwe get. COVID: Very few: Around 90% of adults have already got vaccinations, which is re- markably high. Vaccinations shouldbeeasy,accessible,and voluntary. ONEGOVTCUT: The lead- ership of the Department of Infrastructure. CANNABIS:Weshouldreg- ulatecannabis locally,helping victimsofaddictioninsteadof punishing them. LOCAL GOVT: Less, and towns like Douglas should stopbeing forcedtosubsidise the rest of the island. LEGCO: Yes. All members of Tynwald should be elected by the public. No ifs, no buts. BISHOP: All members of Tynwald shouldbe electedby the public. No ifs, no buts. ABORTIONREFORM: Idid not vote on this. EQUAL MARRIAGE: Yes, I votedtointroducethis inAus- tralia. ASSISTEDDYING:My pri- oritiesforhealtharetoensure that we have robust mental capacity legislation to ensure people’s rights are protected and reduce the waiting list backlog so that there is less need to let people die. YOUNGPEOPLE:Bybuild- ing a local, high-quality and universally accessible health system; a diversified educa- tion system; and high-quality infrastructure (transportand communications). FIRST-TIMEBUYERS:Sup- port building more housing in inner Douglas to ensure wehave enoughhomes, espe- cially in Lord St, Walpole St, Fort St, Regent St, Parade St, North Quay and South Quay. Also scrutinise purchase of housing by non-residents to reduce use of Manx housing as a speculative financial in- strument. RELAXED PLANNING RULES: Yes, especially in the areas listed above. RESIDENTIAL QUALIFI- CATION:No–wewanttoallow young people to return to the island, and prohibiting such peoplefrombuyinguntilafter they are residents will deter them(andwill likelyalsodeter essential medical staff com- ing to IOM). SECOND HOME TAX: No. GENEROUS SCHEMES: These schemes don’t have much of an effect. Just build more homes and scrutinise demand fromoff island. SPEED LIMIT: No. Speed

limits in Douglas East should besetbytheresidentswholive on the street. AIRLINE: No – a national- ised airline has been an eco- nomic disaster for Guernsey taxpayers, and we can’t af- ford the cuts to essential Manx Government services required to pay for it. CHIEF MINISTER: The candidatewhomost supports our plan to improve account- ability for senior government officials, ease the squeeze on thecostof living, andaddress- estheshadowpandemicofthe mental health crisis. AFGHANS: My refugee

he abortion reform equalmarriage? heprincipleof legis- teddying? encourage young the island? would you back to st-time buyers? ing regulations to morehouses?(We’ll u’dpreferbrownfield reenfield, but we’re d.) alification for prop- nsecondhomeown- nerous government e the cost of homes

for first-time buyers. Should we introduce an all-island speed limit? Guernsey has a nationalised airline. Shouldwe? Weknowit’stooearlytosayfordefi- nite,but indulgeus.Whoshouldbethe nextChiefMinister? To how many Afghans should we of- fer refuge? What piece of legislationwouldyou like tobring toTynwald? IfyoucouldvoteinGreatBritain,which partywould you support? If you had a vote in 2016, would you havevotedforBrexit? If you were a professional athlete, would you take the knee? Who is your favouritewriter? Who is your political hero?

VOTE POOLE-WILSON FOR MIDDLE

community. Actively engage and consult youth. Target young people through inten- tional marketing campaigns in short, digital formats. FIRST-TIMEBUYERS: Weshouldexploreallofthe the suggestions in the ques- tion–anationalhousingstrat- egy should be targeted at our specific issues, butweneedto identify thesefirst. SPEED LIMIT: We should explore this considering our serious road traffic collision rate–wouldliketogaugepub- lic opinion. AIRLINE: Yes, if viable. CHIEFMINISTER:Daphne CaineorJanePoole-Wilson(if theywant it). AFGHANS: Our propor- tionate and fair amount. LEGISLATION: A Green New Deal – to include a Fu- ture Generations Act to bind our government to action re the climate emergency (note: thisonewassohardtochoose. Have to mention that I’d also love to bring a Housing Act that improves housing stand- ards, reduces speculation and places an obligation on thegovernment toprovideaf- fordable housing to citizens) GB PARTY: Labour and GreenParty BREXIT: No KNEE: Yes WRITER: David Mitchell (theauthor,notthecomedian) HERO: Marion Shimmin (first female MHK and mem- berof theManxLabourParty) Jacinda Ardern (Prime Minster of New Zealand and leaderof theNZLabourParty) PETERGILMOUR OCCUPATION: Project manager and ITprofessional. CARBON: Increase the number of marine nature re- servesaroundthe islandfrom 10to25withinfiveyears -end- ing destructive fishing tech- niques in these specific areas allowing them to sustain car- bon capture and sea life. SOCIALCARE:No, Ifirmly believewecantacklewaste in government and save many millions per year. But if we hadnoalternativebut toraise

tax, I’dprefer to see the salary cap(around£42,000)onNIre- movedandthesameratepaid on all earnings. The govern- ment public sector pension pay-outs already account for 11% and 22% of all income tax thatwill becollectedthisyear and next – so making savings is the priority. COVID: A campaign to encourage their friends and family and GP to talk about it with them. Formally switch thevaccineprogramme toGP surgeries and away fromcen- tral government. ONEGOVTCUT: Joinupall social housing provision and services. Dozens upon dozens of people on the island are em- ployedacrossgovernmentand local authorities dealingwith social housing: allocation, maintenance, management, rent collection, planning and running duplicated services. Thiscouldbestageoneof local authorityreform,withthesys- tem centrally designed (with input from all current local authorities) and then admin- istered by four chosen local authorities utilising shared resources froma central hub. Many of those that would be adversely affected by such savings are in demand in the private sector - and can be of- fered free training as the re- structure occurs. CANNABIS: No, because that would only encourage more people to try it. Drug dealers can hardly be trusted to adhere to qual- ity control and the potential for harmremains. It would also create prob- lemswiththeUKwhentravel- ling, asmore peoplewouldbe encouragedtotransporttothe Island. For those caught with cannabis (that fits within a matchbox)anon-the-spotfine wouldsuffice. Ifcaughtmulti- ple times, compulsory drugs counselling. LOCALGOVT: Four. LEGCO: No. They’d have a bigger electoral remit than MHKs (more votes) and likely be elected as ‘personalities’. Theirduty is toscrutinise leg-

Photo of Jane Poole-Wilson, political candidate for Middle

WORKING TOGETHER FOR OUR ISLAND ELECTION 23 SEPTEMBER 2021 Elections (Keys and Local Authorities) Act 2020

MEET & GREET LUKE PARKER with As well as making my way round with door to door canvassing, Here is another opportunity to have a chat and raise any questions you may have.

Ramsey Courthouse 4:30pm - 7:00pm

2021 HOUSE OF KEYS GENERAL ELECTION RAMSEY

Friday 10th Friday 17th

PUBLISHED BY LUKE PARKER, 21 ORMLY AVENUE, RAMSEY, ISLE OF MAN, IM8 3LQ (KEYS AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES) ACT 2020