Improving Governance before Constitution

The Isle of Man has a unique political system which create an opportunity to strengthen how residents participate in decision‑making and how government communicates with the public. Many residents feel that decisions are made too late in the process for meaningful input. A more open approach to policy development could include:

Publishing early policy options and evidence before decisions are finalised;
Creating opportunities for residents to contribute through workshops, forums, and structured discussions;
Providing clear explanations of how public input influenced final outcomes;
Creating a central digital platform making it easier for residents to engage with government.

Possible features include:

Public input on priority areas
Idea submission and ranking,
Clear tracking of government commitments and progress
Regular online Q&A sessions with officials

Accessible information for younger residents.

Citizens’ Assemblies can bring diverse voices into discussions on complex topics. They typically involve a representative group of residents who examine an issue in depth and provide recommendations. Assemblies like these are well‑suited to smaller jurisdictions where community identity is strong. Potential topics could include: Housing and planning, Healthcare, Climate and energy, Education and skills, and Transport.

National Referendum

I believe the people of the Isle of Man should have a clearer and more direct say on the major issues that shape our future. At present, the Referendum Act 1979 already allows Tynwald to hold an island-wide referendum on any matter it chooses. In practice, this power has never been used. The legislation is outdated, lacks clear rules on how campaigns should be run, and leaves uncertainty about whether the result is binding. As a result, important decisions are often made without a clear public mandate. I will work to change this.

My commitments:

Support the modernisation of the Referendum Act so it provides clear, fair and practical rules for holding referendums;

Ensure that major, irreversible, or highly significant decisions (for example, large-scale infrastructure projects, fundamental changes to our climate targets, or major social reforms) can be put to the public when Tynwald judges that a direct public mandate is needed;

Always ensure any referendum question is clear, neutral, and properly scrutinised so the public can make an informed choice.

This is not about replacing Tynwald’s responsibility to govern. It is about strengthening democracy by giving people a stronger voice on the decisions that will affect them, their families, and the Island for decades to come.

Improving Public Consultations

Meaningful consultations help build trust and can be made more effective by: Using plain‑language summaries, Allowing longer response periods, Offering multiple ways to participate, and Publishing clear reports showing what changed based on public feedback.

Local Community Decision-Making and Data

Local communities often understand their own needs best. Strengthening local involvement could include: Community councils with small budgets, Participatory budgeting, and Neighbourhood forums for local issues. Increasing transparency and clear consistent communication helps residents understand how government operates, whilst supporting accountability and trust.

Improvements could include:
Regular short updates from departments,
Public dashboards showing spending and progress,
Clear reporting on major projects, and Enhanced roles for youth engagement bodies.

Data driven decision making helps ensure policies respond to real needs to improve policy outcomes in areas such as:
Healthcare access,
Housing availability,
Transport usage,
Skills and employment, Environmental progress.