Interested Reader Posted March 2 Share Posted March 2 (edited) It looks like there is an online poll been started now anyway. Edited March 2 by Interested Reader Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Holte End Posted March 2 Author Share Posted March 2 12 hours ago, Roger Mexico said: In any well-constructed resignation letter, the killer paragraph is usually the penultimate one. This was Christian's: She's telling us that the whole Southern Pool fiasco was the fault of others on CoMin, presumably including Cannan. Of course CoMin has all six MHKs from the North/West as a majority with only Barber from Douglas and Onchan and the South, even though 14 of the MHKs are from there. So closing down a pool in Castletown to counter an overspend at the NSC would make sense to them from a parochial standpoint, even if from no other. If CoMin were overruling Edge on this, you wonder about other mishandled business such as the Drag Queen Fiasco (and the scandal that they still don't seem to be delivering any RSE education. The southern swimming pool wasn't anything to do with the NSC and it spending, Where have you read that, you seem to make up shite But the southern swimming is still not saved. If they are hoping that an accountant can come up with a fiscal plan to save it , then it is really screwed. I give it six months before Treasury go back on their words and pump money into it. I think the fact that Allison brought in RSE into Education, the Drag Queens were also in his time. He should be brought into it, even if it is behind closed doors. But like the mole, he is blind when things come in to the day light, and prefers to keep it below ground. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
code99 Posted March 2 Share Posted March 2 (edited) In the UK, their politicians have access to special political advisers fondly known as SPADs, their respective party machines (can) provide training and/or expert advice as required, etc, etc. Whenever a major political party in the UK produces a poorly justified economic plan, they are habitually hammered by the party opposite and also by the press. Although many aspects of the “Yes, Minister/ Prime Minister” are still as relevant today as they ever were, certain things in political life have moved on. Here, the MHKs are relatively untrained, under-skilled, more like ‘piggies in the middle’ than in the UK. Our politicians are stuck between; the wishes of their constituents, their personal political ambitions, the CoMin and the Sir Humphreys of their Departments. Even when they mean well, our politicians don’t always fully understand the implications of their proposals - they rely on Treasury staff, who may or may not have skills to properly evaluate the MHKs’ proposals. For instance, about half of the CoC members who took part in the survey said that increases in childcare support would not benefit them. Were the political proponents of this policy aware that it would get such a cold reception and why? More obviously, over 90% of the CoC’s membership said that increase in income tax rate from 20% to 22% would hurt them financially. Our political system struggles on many levels. There is a need for wholesale reforms, not just tinkering around the peripheries. Unsurprisingly, in some quarters the feeling is (increasingly) that the Island might as well do away with democratic general elections and let the technocrats to administer the IOM’s affairs. IMHO, this should never allow to happen because even DINO (democracy in name only) is better than an autocratic state. Personally, I think that current Government has lost a lot of public support and should call a GE later this year after the UK’s GE. In the meantime, JP-W could serve as a caretaker Chief Minister. Edited March 2 by code99 typo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moghrey Mie Posted March 2 Share Posted March 2 As the policy has already been laid down and finances are in the Budget I don't understand what Claire Christian means about MHKs influencing both. https://www.gov.im/media/1381206/desc-department-plan-2023-2024.pdf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred the shred Posted March 2 Share Posted March 2 What has Clare Christian done ? Nothing that I can see. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred the shred Posted March 2 Share Posted March 2 I am sure the trouble at QE2 was when Edge was in charge. Also there were no drag queens there was a person that did a drag act in their spare time . It was Julie Edge that appointed two people to investigate the matter, god knows how much that cost, the report came out in drips and drabs and the whole affair was a ridiculous debacle. Under review, eventually the programme was withdrawn and new guide lines were set up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piebaps Posted March 2 Share Posted March 2 (edited) 16 minutes ago, Fred the shred said: Under review, eventually the programme was withdrawn and new guide lines were set up. Not quite Fred. There is still no RSE being taught. The most disturbing thing was a criminal case where an abused child only found out they'd been abused after attending an RSE lesson and learning about their body and what improper conduct was. How many more are out there suffering because of the ridiculous pathway Edge and DESC followed and are still following. https://www.manxradio.com/news/isle-of-man-news/manipulative-monster-jailed-for-sexually-abusing-two-children/ Edited March 2 by piebaps 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Mexico Posted March 2 Share Posted March 2 1 hour ago, Fred the shred said: I am sure the trouble at QE2 was when Edge was in charge. Also there were no drag queens there was a person that did a drag act in their spare time . It was Julie Edge that appointed two people to investigate the matter, god knows how much that cost, the report came out in drips and drabs and the whole affair was a ridiculous debacle. Under review, eventually the programme was withdrawn and new guide lines were set up. Except we now know - and there were even hints of it at the time - that much of the response to this ridiculous situation was coming from elsewhere in government and I suspect from Cannan and those around him. How much control over the decision Edge had is doubtful. No one who knew anything about education would have considered a retired lawyer and a retired police officer the most appropriate people to investigate what happened n a school and then make recommendations on curriculum, but it's very much in the line of how Cannan and the civil service have done other investigations. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doc.fixit Posted March 2 Share Posted March 2 3 hours ago, code99 said: In the UK, their politicians have access to special political advisers fondly known as SPADs, their respective party machines (can) provide training and/or expert advice as required, etc, etc. Whenever a major political party in the UK produces a poorly justified economic plan, they are habitually hammered by the party opposite and also by the press. Although many aspects of the “Yes, Minister/ Prime Minister” are still as relevant today as they ever were, certain things in political life have moved on. Here, the MHKs are relatively untrained, under-skilled, more like ‘piggies in the middle’ than in the UK. Our politicians are stuck between; the wishes of their constituents, their personal political ambitions, the CoMin and the Sir Humphreys of their Departments. Even when they mean well, our politicians don’t always fully understand the implications of their proposals - they rely on Treasury staff, who may or may not have skills to properly evaluate the MHKs’ proposals. For instance, about half of the CoC members who took part in the survey said that increases in childcare support would not benefit them. Were the political proponents of this policy aware that it would get such a cold reception and why? More obviously, over 90% of the CoC’s membership said that increase in income tax rate from 20% to 22% would hurt them financially. Our political system struggles on many levels. There is a need for wholesale reforms, not just tinkering around the peripheries. Unsurprisingly, in some quarters the feeling is (increasingly) that the Island might as well do away with democratic general elections and let the technocrats to administer the IOM’s affairs. IMHO, this should never allow to happen because even DINO (democracy in name only) is better than an autocratic state. Personally, I think that current Government has lost a lot of public support and should call a GE later this year after the UK’s GE. In the meantime, JP-W could serve as a caretaker Chief Minister. I wonder if/when the UK will step in? I really hope they don't need to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
code99 Posted March 2 Share Posted March 2 8 minutes ago, doc.fixit said: I wonder if/when the UK will step in? I really hope they don't need to. Me too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred the shred Posted March 2 Share Posted March 2 Why on earth would the UK step in, nothing to do with them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercenary Posted March 2 Share Posted March 2 4 hours ago, Roger Mexico said: Except we now know - and there were even hints of it at the time - that much of the response to this ridiculous situation was coming from elsewhere in government and I suspect from Cannan and those around him. How much control over the decision Edge had is doubtful. No one who knew anything about education would have considered a retired lawyer and a retired police officer the most appropriate people to investigate what happened n a school and then make recommendations on curriculum, but it's very much in the line of how Cannan and the civil service have done other investigations. Well to be fair, the Minister is in charge of the Department. The Chief Minister can obviously apply pressure and threats, but ultimately it's the Minister's name on the decisions and their authority. If they're not happy they can walk/force the CM's hand (and this has happened numerous times in the past). And it is also the CMs job to 'whip' where they see fit, otherwise it would be a completely disparate collection of politicos bumbling through. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Mexico Posted March 2 Share Posted March 2 52 minutes ago, Mercenary said: Well to be fair, the Minister is in charge of the Department. The Chief Minister can obviously apply pressure and threats, but ultimately it's the Minister's name on the decisions and their authority. If they're not happy they can walk/force the CM's hand (and this has happened numerous times in the past). And it is also the CMs job to 'whip' where they see fit, otherwise it would be a completely disparate collection of politicos bumbling through. To some extent it may have been about picking your battles. This wouldn't have been one you wanted to fight over because you would already be battling the right-wing UK (and worldwide) media in all their craziness and dishonesty. You don't want Alf and his CS handlers stabbing you in the back at the same time. And Edge may have felt she would be better able to protect the schools from whatever over-reaction Alf and co came up with. What Christian has been saying rather suggests they had this attitude. It may be further complicated by some resistance withing DESC (and more widely in the CS) to RSE and similar programmes. At least unless delivered by shiny-faced evangelicals. Again there's been hints of this in the past. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gladys Posted March 2 Share Posted March 2 Aren't the school hours being changed to allow for voluntary PHSE/RSE after the end of school? Sure I saw something, but have searched and not found the announcement I am thinking of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.