Contributions to UK for Defence

[Numbnuts]

18 minutes ago, Kopek said:

Think of all that cheap Argentinian Beef we could get! Take that Howard!!!

Think he's had enough beef thank you 😉

[Roger Mexico]

Interesting to note that Manx Radio reported this news story a couple of hours after this topic appeared - without bothering to credit the Guernsey Press (despite stealing their calculations) or MF for bringing it to their attention.  They did copy some stuff from the actual Lords answer, no doubt using the link I supplied.

Modern newsgathering at its finest.

[Andy Onchan]

7 hours ago, Roger Mexico said:

Interesting to note that Manx Radio reported this news story a couple of hours after this topic appeared - without bothering to credit the Guernsey Press (despite stealing their calculations) or MF for bringing it to their attention.  They did copy some stuff from the actual Lords answer, no doubt using the link I supplied.

Modern newsgathering at its finest.

T'was ever thus.

[the stinking enigma]

So does this mean having the ship registry here costs the taxpayer about 10 million per year?

[Banker]

Here’s Ashford response 

https://www.manxradio.com/news/isle-of-man-news/isle-of-man-bound-by-its-payments-to-uk/

[A fool and his money.....]

So we're paying more than double what Jersey are paying and have been for 30 odd years because of a piece of paper. Oh well that's alright then.

Just stick it in the too hard pile with any other form of constitutional reform and keep giving the millions away.

I notice it includes consular assistance, which will have been virtually non existent for Manxies over the last couple of years, yet our contributions have continued to rise, how does that work?

This is exactly the sort of waste a treasury minister should be looking to cut. I appreciate consular assitance is worth paying for (although defence definitely isn't) but paying £37 for every man woman and child on the island is waaay too much considering most of us will never use it. 

The agreement should be renegotiated, and if a more realistic price can't be agreed we should put it out to tender. 

[2112]

8 minutes ago, A fool and his money..... said:

So we're paying more than double what Jersey are paying and have been for 30 odd years because of a piece of paper. Oh well that's alright then.

Just stick it in the too hard pile with any other form of constitutional reform and keep giving the millions away.

I notice it includes consular assistance, which will have been virtually non existent for Manxies over the last couple of years, yet our contributions have continued to rise, how does that work?

This is exactly the sort of waste a treasury minister should be looking to cut. I appreciate consular assitance is worth paying for (although defence definitely isn't) but paying £37 for every man woman and child on the island is waaay too much considering most of us will never use it. 

The agreement should be renegotiated, and if a more realistic price can't be agreed we should put it out to tender. 

🤪 🤪 🤪 negotiate? The Civil Service and Politicos have made a dogs breakfast on most major infrastructure projects going, due to their negotiating skills. 

Most normal people would never have to use a consular services. Try not to get into trouble, lose your passport etc. 

Would love a full breakdown as to what the island is actually paying for. The band of the Royal Marines for Tynpotwald Day? A Frigate or Gunboat in Douglas Bay? The Red Arrows? 

[John Wright]

Perhaps it was negotiated on the basis of use of diplomatic services, far more Manxies have needed bailing out abroad than the more genteel/refined Jerrais, Guerns or Aurignans?

Or maybe it was done on a nudge nudge basis with UK reminding IoMG of what happened to the CI last time they didn’t pay their fair share.

Ive often thought we missed the boat by not leasing ourselves out to the highest tender from the likes of USA/Russia/China as a military/naval/air base

[Numbnuts]

1 hour ago, John Wright said:

 

Ive often thought we missed the boat by not leasing ourselves out to the highest tender from the likes of USA/Russia/China as a military/naval/air base

This. If we just suggested it in the right quarters our contribution would plummet . Its nonsense what we have been paying . Maybe there worried about the VAT contribution changing ?. 

[2112]

2 hours ago, John Wright said:

Perhaps it was negotiated on the basis of use of diplomatic services, far more Manxies have needed bailing out abroad than the more genteel/refined Jerrais, Guerns or Aurignans?

Or maybe it was done on a nudge nudge basis with UK reminding IoMG of what happened to the CI last time they didn’t pay their fare share.

Ive often thought we missed the boat by not leasing ourselves out to the highest tender from the likes of USA/Russia/China as a military/naval/air base

For a few hundred millions the island could let the Rushens create a Naval Base. Or perhaps Jurby Motodrome could be turned into a Air Base? 

[John Wright]

4 minutes ago, 2112 said:

For a few hundred millions the island could let the Rushens create a Naval Base. Or perhaps Jurby Motodrome could be turned into a Air Base? 

Why would people from Port St Mary, Port Erin, Colby, Ballakilpheric, The Level, Croit e Caley, Surby, Fleshwick, Earystane and Ronague want a Naval Base?

[SleepyJoe]

To help claim the lands north of the bridge for Spain?

[SleepyJoe]

¡Nuestra armada zarpa hacia la aldea de Michael al amanecer! 

[quilp]

Olé! 

[Non-Believer]

With Russia currently massing troops and armour on its border with Ukraine (having only recently annexed Crimea as well) and Britain hastily despatching troops to the region to shore up NATO defences, I don't think offering to whore our territory out to Putin would gain much traction with the FCO somehow?