Positive Action Group - Possan Jantys Jarrooagh

Open, accountable government, rigorous control of public finances, and a fairer society for all.

  • Increase font size
  • Default font size
  • Decrease font size

Coping with Covid

Thursday, 08 July 2021 21:39 PAG
E-mail Print PDF

coping covid

Add new comment
Last Updated on Monday, 12 July 2021 22:14
 

Seven Challenges the Isle of Man must Confront in the Near Future

Friday, 25 June 2021 16:33 PAG
E-mail Print PDF

towChange is in the air following extreme uncertainty in recent months.

After the General Election in September IoM will have new politicians in post, a different Chief Minister and government.

There will be a new Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General. A new Clerk of Tynwald will be in place.

PAG has assessed the considerable challenges that the new administration will have to face and we address them here in this discussion paper.

(see Disclosure at end of the paper)

Attachments:
FileFile sizeDownloads
Download this file (Seven strategic challenges.pdf)Seven strategic challenges.pdf311 Kb156
Add new comment
Last Updated on Sunday, 27 June 2021 19:37
 

Block Vote in Tynwald

Sunday, 13 June 2021 13:39 PAG
E-mail Print PDF

To aid understanding of Tynwald voting procedures PAG has updated its acclaimed 'Block Vote' diagram.

To be successful, the proposer of a motion, must get a majority of votes in both Keys and Council - generally
13 and 5 votes respectively.

In the Keys, bolstered by collective responsibility a Minister can be guaranteed 9 votes plus the votes of his/her
departmental members e.g The DfE Minister has 12 votes in the bag before any vote is taken!

We are pleased to say that, compared with our previous Block Vote from 2012, the current version shows that this voting system
is marginally less predictable. There are fewer MLCs who have a departmental role.

PAG Block Vote v3 2021s

Add new comment
Last Updated on Sunday, 13 June 2021 14:00
 

IoM Politician's Pay

Sunday, 13 June 2021 14:03 PAG
E-mail Print PDF

In September 2021 the remuneration of Tynwald Members will be transferred to a different, simpler pay scale.

It is claimed that overall it will be cost neutral for the tax payer, but we disagree (see Total)

Here we examine the changes by comparing the current remuneration (including expenses) with that proposed:

Current (£)

 Proposed (£)

Chief Minister

 88,022 86,954

President

 74,620 76,921

Speaker

 79,087 76,921

Ministers

 74,620 76,921

Treasury Members

 70,152 66,888

Statutory Board Chair

 70,152 70,232

MHK - Departmental Member

 65,685 66,888

MHK - not Departmental Member

 52,282 66,888

MLC - Departmental Member

 65,685 63,145

MLC - not Departmental Member

 52,282 63,145

TOTAL

 2,225,673 2,304,447

Note: the current remuneration may have been enhanced by 1% in April 2021, but we have not been able to confirm this.

Add new comment
Last Updated on Sunday, 13 June 2021 14:41
 

Budget Opinion

Saturday, 27 March 2021 19:49 A N Other
E-mail Print PDF

budget2021

PAG was unable to hold the February public meeting, with Treasury Minister Alf Cannan, to discuss the IOM Budget 2021-22.

Instead we publish the following opinion which attempts to objectively critique the main features of the Budget.
Attachments:
FileFile sizeDownloads
Download this file (The MANX 2021-22 Budget- An opinion.pdf)2021 Manx Budget - An Opinion882 Kb461
Add new comment
Last Updated on Sunday, 28 March 2021 14:39
 

PAG Event: Why we need a republic

Thursday, 16 January 2020 20:16 PAG
E-mail Print PDF
POSITIVE ACTION GROUP - Public Meeting

Why we need a Republic!

A Presentation by

Graham Smith, CEO 'Republic'

republic 1

Manx Legion Club, Market Hill, Douglas

7:30 pm MONDAY 27th January 2020

The event is free and open to all

Positive Action Group (PAG) kicks off 2020 with a hot topic.

The talk and following debate will focus on why we need the opportunity to elect our head of state. The unelected Monarchy is going through a torrid time as we enter the new decade. Chief Executive Officer of Republic, Graham Smith, will explain some of the mystique surrounding the existence of the Royal Family.

He starts a nationwide tour here at The Legion, in Douglas. PAG has indeed been fortunate to get him to speak in the IoM. This is the first event of Republic's new "Where You Live' programme, which will see him travelling to dozens of towns and cities talking about why we need a republic.

He will talk about recent events which have shown our constitution to be deeply flawed, and why we all deserve to elect our head of state. Monarchy myth busters will feature.

Graham Smith regularly comments in mainstream media - BBC, Channel 4 - about the need for democratic reform and the abolition of the monarchy.

Commenting on the recent Royal crises Mr Smith said:

"The royal family is in trouble and with the next succession on the horizon their problems are only going to get worse. The Queen and Prince Charles appear comfortable with all the trappings and formality of royal duties, but it's increasingly clear that the younger generations are not so keen.With recent events in the UK parliament exposing the Queen to criticism and prompting serious debate about royal powers this is an important issue".

Following the presentation the audience will have the opportunity to comment and ask questions

As usual the event is free to attend and all are welcome, whether you agree with Republic or not, whether you want to listen to the ideas or get stuck into what promises to be a lively debate.

Add new comment
Last Updated on Thursday, 16 January 2020 22:36
 

PAG Event: Budget 2020

Wednesday, 19 February 2020 22:12 PAG
E-mail Print PDF

PAG public meeting

The Treasury Minister Explains
The 2020 Manx Budget

A presentation by Hon Alf Cannan MHK

2020 budget

Monday 24th February 2020 at 7:30pm
Manx Legion Club, Douglas

The event is free and open to all

The Treasury Minister will present his 2020 Budget Statement to Tynwald on Tuesday 18th February.

Less than a week later, Positive Action Group is delighted to host the only public meeting where the Minister will expand on his decisions to the broader electorate, and face questions from the floor as to our reaction to those announcements.

Mr Cannan's 2019 Budget was "one of confidence" - with increases in personal allowances and benefits,together with significant increases for several Government Departments including Health and Social Care, Education and Home Affairs (the latter largely to benefit the Police).

Since then, the economy has continued to grow, income tax receipts continue to increase, and Government accounts show a surplus - so, the manx economy appears in great shape.

But the main issues facing Mr Cannan and our Government also continue. The public sector pensions liability is now in excess of £4.1 billion and with the run-down and expiry of the Pensions Reserve in 2022, surely has longer-term financing issues.

Our health and social care policies remain big questions and where their budgets are under continuing stress with a need for annual "top-ups" from contingency funds.
Brexit has been done, but remains an urgent problem with no definitive answers as to its outcome or impact on the Manx economy.

Meantime, the Govenment's poor reputation for project and budget control of initiatives such as Douglas Promenade, Peel Marina and the Liverpool Terminal are also significant concerns.

Expanding the Manx economy is a prime objective of this Government.

The eGaming sector has been a prime engine of growth in recent years – but, given recent news from GVC and Poker Stars, can and will that continue?

The VAT Agreement with the UK underpins the whole basis of Government's accounts - but despite two spending surveys attempting to resolve some of the questions, is Government any closer to reaching a resolution with the UK on expected future revenues?

Whilst public sector employees have the benefit of their generous pension scheme, our government – unlike the UK government - has as yet taken no action to require the private sector to do the same for their workers. Will this lead to an issue of "social fairness", where the public sector enjoys "first class pensions" but "second class or no pensions" for the private sector?

Can we expect changes in financial policy to address these issues – or will the assurance of "future growth" be used to provide the answers?

Each year the Budget Statement is expected with great anticipation.There's much to think about and Positive Action Group (PAG) is pleased to welcome Mr Cannan to share and discuss his thoughts at a public meeting on Monday, 24th February at 7:30pm at the Manx Legion Club, Market Hill, Douglas.

All will be made very welcome to what is sure to be a stimulating evening with much to discuss and debate. The evening is free and open to everyone, with a voluntary collection at the door to help cover PAG expenses to fund our programme of "public interest" events.
Add new comment
Last Updated on Wednesday, 19 February 2020 22:49
 

PAG Event: ALWAYS follow the MONEY?

Monday, 18 November 2019 20:03 PAG
E-mail Print PDF

POSITIVE ACTION GROUP (PAG) - Public Meeting

ALWAYS follow the MONEY?

A Presentation by

Louise Whitelegg (IoM co-ordinator for Christian Aid)

Archibald Elliott (IoM Student Climate Network)

manx money

Manx Legion Club, Market Hill, Douglas

7:30 pm MONDAY 25th November 2019

The event is free and open to all

Following the money seems to be the policy of the IoM Government.

At almost the same time as announcing a climate emergency, along with aiming for carbon neutrality by 2050,Government persisted with an agreement to award a gas exploration licence in Manx waters. Further, if 'commercial accumulations of natural gas' are found, drilling will continue. The theory is that revenue raised from gas exploration will go towards funding green initiatives in the future.
 
All this at the same time each of us being encouraged to reduce our carbon footprint and dependency on fossil fuels. It all adds up to a confusing message for the public whilst we wait for the eagerly anticipated Curran Report
 
One measure our government could take is to withdraw our investments in fossil fuel companies i.e. divestment. The Manx government has £42 million held in gas and oil assets. Douglas Borough Council has almost £1 million held in fossil fuels in its pensions portfolio.
 
Louise Whitelegg, IoM co-ordinator for Christian Aid, puts the case forward for divestment of fossil fuels.
"This is really the only sensible option, not only for the future of our planet but to avoid possible future liabilities and stranded assets. People ask what difference can I make in the climate debate, there are plenty of little things each of us can do but there is one simple thing we can all do to make a massive difference to our environment and that is to divest from fossil fuels"
 
Aided by researcher Archibald Elliott of the Isle of Man Student Climate Network, Louise will make the case for re-thinking our investment strategy to correlate with tackling the climate emergency.
 
The event is free and open to all.
Add new comment
Last Updated on Tuesday, 19 November 2019 22:33
 
More Articles...
  • «
  •  Start 
  •  Prev 
  •  1 
  •  2 
  •  3 
  •  4 
  •  5 
  •  6 
  •  7 
  •  8 
  •  9 
  •  10 
  •  Next 
  •  End 
  • »
Page 1 of 30

Newsletter

Subscribe

Receive
Our occasional newsletter provides details of forthcoming events and features new website articles.

Main Menu

Login