Time to Stop Nonsense of Isle of Man Behaving Like a Sycophantic Colony

Here we are in the year 2021 and the Isle of Man (Manx: Mannin) still has a Lieutenant Governor!  A representative of the British monarchy (head of state), styled as "His Excellency". A topic that is to the fore at the moment as the five year term of the present governor has come to its end. After advertising for a new one, their identity is due to be announced. A nice little number for a civil servant who will get an official residence, all expenses paid, at Government House and receive an annual salary of around £108,208. The role of governor is sold to the proudly independent Manx, as being essentially ceremonial. 

Which begs the question for the necessity of this costly feudal throwback. Or as put in more forthright terms by the Mannin Branch of the Celtic League:  “Another sponger has been chosen for government house to replace Richard Gozney who has cost Manx people the best part of two million pounds during his five year soiree at the Crown HQ.” As they point out this all comes at a time of financial hardship for many Manx people. Not that this is hampering a display of embarrassing sychofancy by some in the present Manx administration, who fawn over their departing colonial master. While at the same time extravagant plans are being made to have a ceremony for the new initiate.

Manx people deserve better than this. It is time to remove this outdated colonial post of governor and live in an independent democratic state. This is not achieved, as some might suggest, by having a Manx person being appointed as lieutenant governor. Afterall, that would only result in a Quisling figure which is suggestive of someone who collaborates with an occupying force. Rather get rid of the position of governor completely who is the direct representative of a forieign power. Replaced by our own elected representatives in both houses of Tynwald headed by a President who is elected by direct universal suffrage.    

The Isle of Man is not, and never has been, part of the United Kingdom, or Great Britain and is not represented at  Westminster. Tynwald, the Manx parliament, is in fact older than the UK parliament at Westminster. The Island might be surrounded on all sides; with Ireland to the west, Scotland to the north, England to the east and Wales to the south, but the Isle of Man is not actually part of any of them. So woebetide those that make the dreadful mistake of using the awful word “mainland” to describe its neighouring islands. An Island that proudly states its claim to be the: “Oldest Continuous Parliament in the World” does not need the ridiculous feudal rule of a British Lieutenant Governor. We can form good and cooperative relationships with our neighbours as an independent sovereign state.