General Thread for the election (old Electioneering starting early thread from Local News)

[2112]

There is a lovely article in the Examiner about the CPA election observers, which we taxpayers are paying £40,000 for the privilege. For the amount we are paying, 9 observers are coming to the island. Are we paying 5* Hotel Prices for accommodation and food? I’m at a loss trying to figure out how it’s costing £40,000? Have the airlines jacked up their prices? Are they staying for a week? 
 

 

[SleepyJoe]

Fee + expenses?

[Roger Mexico]

There was a Report to July Tynwald on what is involved:

https://www.tynwald.org.im/business/opqp/sittings/20182021/2021-GD-0066.pdf

It followed a motion from Perkins, which suggests it was a government-encouraged thing.  It consists of:

1 x Head of Mission

2 x Election Analysts

3 x Political Observers from other CPA nations

2 x members of CPA staff

Though given the almighty cock-ups Athol Street's finest managed to make last time, there's an argument that as much supervision as possible is needed.

[2112]

11 minutes ago, Roger Mexico said:

There was a Report to July Tynwald on what is involved:

https://www.tynwald.org.im/business/opqp/sittings/20182021/2021-GD-0066.pdf

It followed a motion from Perkins, which suggests it was a government-encouraged thing.  It consists of:

1 x Head of Mission

2 x Election Analysts

3 x Political Observers from other CPA nations

2 x members of CPA staff

Though given the almighty cock-ups Athol Street's finest managed to make last time, there's an argument that as much supervision as possible is needed.

So we taxpayers are paying a Perkins Tax. Now there is a precedent set, perhaps in 2026 the CPA entourage may increase. The cost will increase.

[quilp]

2 hours ago, 2112 said:

There is a lovely article in the Examiner about the CPA election observers, which we taxpayers are paying £40,000 for the privilege. For the amount we are paying, 9 observers are coming to the island. Are we paying 5* Hotel Prices for accommodation and food? I’m at a loss trying to figure out how it’s costing £40,000? Have the airlines jacked up their prices? Are they staying for a week? 
 

 

No, that's each, £40,000 each. 

[2112]

41 minutes ago, quilp said:

No, that's each, £40,000 each. 

£360,000?

Is that Perkins Legacy, if he fails to be re-elected?

[quilp]

I don't know actually, I just threw that in for divilment. 

[TheTeapot]

Do you think that for some of these people coming over to look at our election, there's a local forum back home going on about them going on a jolly to the isle of man?

[Roger Mexico]

27 minutes ago, offshoremanxman said:

So we are now warned by the police not to look at election predictions 

https://www.manxradio.com/news/isle-of-man-news/residents-asked-to-avoid-election-betting-site/

That's really poor journalism (even ignoring their usual inability to distinguish its/it's).  It seem to be based on Andy Corrie's post on IOM News and Politics mentioned yesterday.  But they don't seem to have realised that all traces of betting were removed from the site by yesterday evening.

[TheTeapot]

For anyone who wants to watch it it is on the iplayer

Totally awesome and thrilling election special

Edited September 19, 2021 by TheTeapot

[Keiran Hannifin]

Eurgh. Don't have a TV license. 😂 

[Declan]

So when asked about the possibility of a female Quayle thinks the next CM should have ministerial experience, and unfortunately no women have the experience. 
 

Says the man who sacked the only woman in COMIN first and then at every opportunity since to appoint a woman chose a man. Men like - Boot, Hamer, Baker, Cregeen, and Skelly. 

[SleepyJoe]

I hope the new First Minister will be a woman

[doc.fixit]

Must be a very strong woman, (or man), to take on the old boy's network!

[code99]

7 hours ago, offshoremanxman said:

The BBC election reporting this morning was good but who invited a sanctimonious prick like Phil Craine to participate? Not sure anyone really cares what his view of the IOM is. 

Phil Craine runs an informal discussion group called ‘Taxwatch’ - https://taxwatch.im/.

IOM taxes are currently a hot potato (albeit an often quietly spoken about) topic. To date practically the entire IOM community (i.e., left leaning, right leaning, or middle of the road) have all benefited from our tax regime. If our ‘0%/10%’ company policy is scrapped, almost everyone would be a loser.

All four Rushen candidates and even Bill Mummery (a major e-gambling executive) who were interviewed by the BBC, agreed that international tax reforms are swirling and that the Island’s current tax regime is under threat. Mark Kemp, who opined that we could retain our low-taxes structure, nevertheless compared our current situation to that of living under the Sword of Damocles. To my mind this was a very telling metaphor. I got the impression that he thinks that international bodies like the G7 and the EU will decide whether the proverbial Sword will fall on us or not. If they cut the string that is holding the ‘Sword’ at bay, the Island will have to adapt as best as we can.

The elephant in the room is the threat that our zero% company tax rate will be the catalyst to put the IOM on the EU’s Black List. The decision will likely be made by the EU before the end of this year. If we are lucky and are able to escape their wrath this time around, undoubtedly that will not be the end of the matter. That is why the next administration must develop an alternative tax path forward (e.g. plan for a tax regime which has a company tax rate of 15%) and further diversify our economy. It would be irresponsible not to do so.

Edited September 19, 2021 by code99