Ayre MHK Eddie Teare says universal benefits may become a thing of the past in the Isle of Man, as financial pressures increase.

A debate has been raging over whether payments such as child benefit should be paid to everybody, or only those who need the money.

Mr Teare, who will defend his seat in the House of Keys in September's general election, says it's an issue the Island will have to face up to, particularly as another announcement is expected shortly about the Island's VAT revenue sharing agreement with the United Kingdom.

He says universal benefits will be one of the things the next government will have to consider (listen to audio file below):

Eddie Teare is one of two people who have declared so far in the single-seat constituency of Ayre.

The other candidate is Pat Ayres from the Liberal Vannin Party.