TWO Manx Government ministers highlighted the Island's strong economic links with the UK during discussions with UK Chancellor George Osborne MP this week.

Chief Minister Tony Brown MHK and Treasury Minister Anne Craine MHK had the chance to meet with Mr Osborne as they attended the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham.

Mrs Craine said: We had a positive meeting with Mr Osborne who was very keen to learn more about the Isle of Man.

"We were able to reinforce the Island's position as a leading business centre and our long standing record of compliance with international regulation."

In addition to meeting the Chancellor, Mr Brown and Mrs Craine were in the audience for Prime Minister David Cameron's keynote speech and held a series of informal discussions with influential members of the Coalition Government, ministers, peers and senior policy advisers.

They also spoke to Kenneth Clarke MP, the Secretary of State for Justice, who is responsible for the UK Government’s relationship with the Isle of Man and other Crown Dependencies.

Mr Brown said: "It is very important to develop our relationship with the Coalition Government at Ministerial level. The party conferences provide the right platform to deliver our messages and raise awareness of the Island's positive role within the international community."

During the conference Mrs Craine attended the Conservative Business Forum where she met UK Treasury Ministers Mark Hoban MP, David Gauke MP and Justine Greening MP.

She said: "The forum gave me an opportunity to promote the Isle of Man economy and our commitment to transparency and financial supervision.

"I was also able to learn more about how the Isle of Man is perceived by members of the UK Treasury team and I was heartened by their understanding of our contribution to the UK economy."