Stu Peters

I was on the select committee that engaged Richard Wright KC after interviews of a number of qualified candidates. We made it clear right from the start that his review must be entirely independent, impartial and that he should report directly to Tynwald and not even us. I think members got sight of it an hour before it was published online. Only people involved in the case were interviewed.

Snark all you like, but those first 12 months on the back bench convinced me that getting stuck in was preferable to being a shouty gobshite for the amusement of people who enjoy the faked combat in reality TV shows. I take the job seriously whereas you seem to prefer pointless vote-winning bluster.

The long answer: Any comparisons between Manx Radio and 3FM need to take into account that MR is not just a (semi) automated jukebox. People may not like the current affairs, heritage, specialist music, farming, phone-in and culture programmes (especially if you just want pop choons ), but you can only get that stuff on Manx Radio. It’s more expensive and labour intensive to produce and is exactly what a National Broadcaster needs to supply, even for a minority audience. They know that these shows lose them listeners, which partly explains the drop in listeners. The short answer: It went downhill when I left…

No.

As Ive pointed out n numerous occasions, my manifesto was produced two months before the election, during which I knocked on every door I could to see what people thought. Many of them said they were disappointed I wouldn’t be looking to work within government to influence matters, so I changed (at all the hustings I think) to the pledge that I’d not accept a position within the first 12 months. I stuck to that and only joined the OFT and later IOMPO. I don’t lie, but I am capable of a change of mind.

There are few perquisites in being a departmental member, unless it feeds your ego or makes you feel you’re doing some good, and if you have a previously held position on anything you can recuse yourself from voting for it. The only conflict I’ve had is that as Chairman of IOMPO I speak highly in the annual report of their climate change aspirations even though I think it’s all a costly nonsense (a view the board and all of Tynwald is aware of). But I’m speaking in an official capacity then and respect the board decisions on this matter. I don’t think that’s hypocritical.

I’ve been a DOI member for about a year now and have NEVER been told what to vote or say. I can’t speak for others but expect they would similarly disabuse you of this bit of urban myth. In the past members got an uplift for serving in a department, but not now. Means none of us NEEDS the job and I believe are motivated by a higher desire to be useful and contribute.

Absolutely part of my cunning plan for the Snaefell Gravity Park Slinky. I’m planning to make a video about it in a couple of months. However, based on most previous comments there’s clearly no point in ever doing anything in the Isle of Man as everyone tasked is allegedly inept or corrupt. No wonder we’ve so few entrepreneurs in government.

In fairness the published question is often just a mechanism for more probing supplementaries. Like ‘so if this is a virus, what is the department’s policy on it being transmitted at the replacement Southern swimming pool and when will it open’?

About 3 votes in 2026?

Bloody weather - flight back from Dublin on Sunday was cancelled, rebooked for yesterday and extended hotel stay and hire car (gouged on price). Sat in the airport for 5 hours watching the IOM flight being postponed numerous times. Finally called to the gate and loaded on the shuttle bus (phew). Then told to get off the bus and go back into the gate/cattle pen as the aircraft hadn't even arrived (argh). Long wait for incoming aircraft, panic about Ronaldsway closing time, then finally boarded. I hate travelling on boats and planes as Self Loading Cargo.

I expect CO2 will be blamed at some point…

If I ever said 'lessons have been learned' I was being ironic. For the record I think Alf Cannan is a good Chief Minister, but he has to work under the constraints of a democratic system. As BDFL I wouldn't be subject to any laws or limitations, and only require a small personal security army. And a Learjet. And a company Bentley.

Ready for me to be anointed Benevolent Dictator for Life yet? It’s the only answer. A mix of Michael Corleone and Tony Soprano. Some disagreeable posters on here might go…missing though.

How can I bully the planners? I have a couple of constituents who keep getting knocked back, despite my supportive letters.

So, what speed is a trot? 10mph? Are horse trams silent assassins that materialise unexpectedly from the Victorian smog? If I inadvertently fell under the flanged wheels of a horse tram and was decapitated I would write it off as Natural Selection. How many annual decapitations do we get with them running down the middle of a busy road I wonder?

Whole thing should have gone on the walkway, which was designed for 100,000 promenaders and nowadays only attracts a handful. I remember suggesting it on my radio show and Murray Lambden (IIRC) wrote to the Manx Radio MD insisting that I be fired for my impertinence.

Blame Kevin Costner.

26 years paying into the IOM, and it's not like my current salary is a gift that I 'take' (although you obviously think it is). The only 'very little' I do for it is ask daft questions and try to score points in Keys and Tynwald and pander to people like you who think that's what makes a good MHK.

You don’t pay tax based on the hours you work, just the enormous amount you earn for those few hours.

When Vibro goes on an ‘old people’ rant he conveniently forgets that many of us have been paying taxes and NI for (in my case) 53 years, and have never taken much out in terms of benefits or healthcare. So we’re massively in credit. His presumed age group has probably taken more out than they’ve paid in.

Roundels work because it's traffic from the right that is most likely to hit you, so you tend to yield to it naturally.

I stand to be corrected but I don't think marshals ever get paid by any major motorsport organisation - a bit like the RNLI it's always relied on volunteer goodwill.

I don't know anything about Strang Stores (except where it is) but if it's being leased commercially on a full repairing basis and that isn't being done by the tenant, the landlord is perfectly entitled to insist on any necessary work.

My understanding (which may be flawed) is that they had permission in 2016 from the then health minister to use the hospital roads. They (subsequently?) sought planning permission for their own access road but were refused. Last year that decision was overturned but by then they were skint and need the new facility to be earning to afford it. They can’t sign leases with tenants without legal access. Meanwhile the DHSS has now refused access. Confused? You will be after this episode of SOAP…