Public meeting to update "Isle of Man 2020: a Programme for Government - Chris Thomas MHK
As part of my campaign to win a full term to continue to work on the 7 year plan, Isle of Man 2020 I launched during the Douglas West by-election in 2013, I am reporting and discussing progress and outlining changes still needed at a public meeting to be held at 7pm on 8th September in the All Saints Church Hall, Alexander Drive, Douglas. Dominic Delaney will chair.
Each of Government’s Agenda for Change priorities need to change. Rather than “Growing the Economy” we need to “Grow More Usefully” to put more of our economic growth into people’s back pockets and use all the levers government has to make that money go further. Rather than “Protecting the Vulnerable” we need to “Enable Everyone”, through more money for those in the middle, and with fairer social security, and better legislation. Rather than “Balance the Budget” we need to “Rebalance the balancing of public finances”, with fairer allocation of who pays into the public purse.
As I write in my manifesto and leaflet for this event:
“Thank you for electing me as a Douglas West MHK in 2013. I sketched a 7-year political programme in my “Orange and Purple” by-election manifesto; and - as a principled politician - that plan has framed all my activity in Tynwald.
If elected as your next Keys representative I would continue to contribute to making government effective for people. MHKs need to listen as a Government Programme 2017-21 is drawn up so that the next government is formed around policy and with a clear mandate. I agree with Lord Lisvane – who reviewed how Tynwald works recently - that this “could be completed within two weeks” of the election. It took the last government 16 months to debate and agree its “Agenda for Change”!
My priorities now are:
• Election of the Chief Minister in public and in line with the vote of the elected MHKs;
• Approving a “Government Programme 2017-2021” in Tynwald soon after this election, alongside a realistic medium-term financial strategy and indicative legislative programme;
• Making economic growth more useful by raising people’s incomes and making money go further, including by light-touch regulation of standing charges and the profitability of near-monopolies;
• Rebalancing the balancing of the budget to stabilise public finances including reducing effective tax rates for those on lower and middle incomes;
• Legislating and training to enable everyone not just to protect vulnerable people;
• Ensuring pensions and benefits rise at least in line with prices;
• Continuing to negotiate adaptations to employer pensions given changed realities;
• Securing public services by providing public servants policy direction so that efficiencies and synergies can be realised;
• Encouraging Island and re-locating businesses, including by localising government spending;
• Means testing after needs testing only when necessary to minimise bureaucracy;
• Joining up housing strategy, streamlining planning and revisiting conservation policy so that people can live in Douglas, including re-using derelict, empty buildings and sites thus conserving our countryside, public open spaces and built heritage;
• Prioritising renewal for public buildings, structures, roads and pavements;
• Rebuilding public confidence in Tynwald through step-by-step enhancement; and
• Allowing Douglas Council to deliver all local services, including parking, town access and open spaces.
We cannot look back and stare; as important choices are made you need an MHK with the heart and mind to establish and interpret the facts and to take political responsibility that decisions are made in our best interests. I can be that person again with one of your votes. Thank you for considering my capability and policies when you decide your vote.”
- Ends -
