No press conference this time please Howard!

An article in the UK Guardian newspaper describes an ‘unprepossessing Victorian building’ on South Quay Douglas and you know the Island is in the news again as ‘a tax haven’.

The feature one of several in recent days reports on an investigation launched by the National Crime Agency (NCA) into funding provided to the Brexit leave campaign:

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/nov/01/isle-man-company-allegat...

The UK are seemingly obsessed with their desire to remain or exit the EU which makes me pleased that we were never in it to start with.

You know that this story will run and run now both in print and broadcast media and reinforce the popular perception in the UK of the Isle of Man being some sun kissed paradise with all sorts of secrets and swollen bank accounts. Ironic really that the same ‘unprepossessing Victorian building’ was last in the news as the site of a fuel poverty protest.

The Guardian will of course not want to focus on the contradictions. The Isle of Man is the ‘Isle of Wealth’ and we have secretive companies, offshore accounts and the rich and famous - shock horror. Let's park the Foodbank issue for the time.

This can only get worse if Chief Minister Howard Quayle decides to hold a press conference or talk to Panorama. The Richard Bilton team are probably packing their trunks and dusting off their sunglasses as we speak. Please Alf don’t let Howard do it again!

The local cops are also stunned. At least that's the initial reaction a spokesman said they didn’t want to elaborate (link):

https://www.manxradio.com/news/isle-of-man-news/extent-of-iom-role-in-ba...

Possibly because they will all busy checking car lights at Braddan Bridge as part of their ‘We’re determined to spoil your Xmas campaign’ which runs from now until January.

Of course there could be red faces at the local FCU (not to mention less time for takeaway meals) if the NCA find anything. Once again we will be left wondering what we pay fat salaries to the FCU crew for.

For the time however ‘rest easy’ because as with the Corporate-Jet scandal no one has done anything wrong.

Of course that will not stop the likes of the Guardan and other news media in the UK chucking mud our way. Cue indignation from our own media - once again a story on their doorstep they missed!

Links:

The Press conference from hell:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3_wxce6ORo

Bilton and the Paradise Papers:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b09fgcz3/panorama-offshore-secrets...

Image: The Bilton interview

Bernard Moffatt