Non-Believer

People are employed and paid considerable amounts of money to vomit up this job-justifying shit. Which is why we are regally fucked.

It was another of Bell's vanity projects IIRC, suddenly the island couldn't possibly function without its creation and it's done nothing but expand and consume everything in its path ever since, a bit like The Blob.

Having listened to those three clips all I hear is quotes of difficulties and expense imposed by local and central government. Lack of footfall caused by parking restrictions/expense and lack of disposable income, coupled to energy and utility costs, business rates and taxation and rent. And although there's no reference made to it, you can certainly add in transport and shipping costs of retail goods. Retail is an exceptionally difficult area to be in on this island, now and for the foreseeable future, those in it have nothing but sympathy from me. Government is crushing the life out of it on this Island.

Clearly the view from the office window.

They have definitely shipped to Europe before now, plus given that some of the stuff they sell is getting on for £40 a bottle, the economic squeeze won't be helping as people tighten their belts.

I'm reliably told that compared to 5 years ago, their online sales ordering figures to UK and beyond have gone through the floor.

One might wonder if he used his medical qualifications and skills to extract it from a rectum?

A bit of conjecture. I think that this 500k figure was arrived at after careful calculations by the civil service. Nothing to do with MHKs who are merely the innocent forwarders of the sooths. Those calculations were based on the amount of visitor revenue contribution projected as being required to fund the cs/govt. and its projected growth up until 2032. There is no way on God's earth that that figure could have been realistically arrived at by any other means.

I love this bit. "They'll retain their fanciful figures projections for internal use only". Because not even Tynwald members believed them. So they're happy to wallow in their own little swamp of made up bullshit.

Makes one wonder what these growing numbers of people were actually being paid (and what they thought they were being paid) for? Clearly it wasn't to adhere to and carry out an inspection regime 'cos they'd obviously decided to off-load that responsibility to the industry itself. Money for nothing and your pension for (nearly) free. Gravy ahoy.

One wonders if it's possible to have AI generate a montage of politicians fulfilling their election pledges...

Some of the comments re costs and wages above spurred me to dig out my flight details from the last long-haul flight I did. Taxes and charges, anyone....?

So just over £3k a week to sleep on the job and then try and blame the industry (or anybody but yourself). Not bad. Not bad at all. Wonder if you'd get that in the private sector; and keep the job for much longer? Then again, it may have been deliberate policy by Govt too. Turn a blind eye and grab as much as you can until the hand is forced. More desperation?