Alastair Kneale's blog

NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

The Military Reserves, they’ve only just been formed but already they are ‘shrinking’!

With much fanfare and an overabundance of media zeal the Reserves Forces initiative was launched with a military pantomime that went on for several days on Douglas promenade earlier this year. Hundred we were told had ‘flocked to the colours’ although this was later modified to ‘about’ one hundred and fifty expressions of interest and afterwards, in one of a series of contradictory radio interviews, they were including families in the count!

NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

The Isle of Man government seems to have parked its controversial decision to ‘reform’ the rating system.

When earlier this year rates demands dropped through Islanders letterboxes they were accompanied by a statement saying the government wants to consult on a new rating system. The government said they wanted the system to be more ‘accurate and fair’. We immediately christened this Orwellian double-speak for ‘they want it to increase’.

NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

A variety of National Facebook sites for the various branches have been under development now for two years or more. You will find links on the National branch pages to the other branch sites including our friends in Patagonia.

The GS is also working to rejuvenate our branch in Nova Scotia and together with International and the US branch that constitutes our reach outside the Celtic countries.

Congratulations to Wales and Ireland who have qualified for the quarter-finals of the Rugby World Cup 2015. The top international teams contest the Rugby World Cup every four years. The three Celtic nations participating are Ireland, Wales and Scotland. Scotland must win their game against Samoa next Saturday to ensure qualification for the quarter-finals. Meanwhile England, the hosts of this years competition, crashed out after being defeated by Australia. England are the first World Cup hosts to fail to make it out of the group stages. 

NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

Last week the Isle of Man government introduced new work permit rules which it says are destined to make the Island more ‘business friendly’.

Control of Employment regulations that have existed on Mann for decades are an important protection for Manx working people and there is general support for the so called ‘work permit system’. However the regulations have not been liked by some elements of government or the business community for well over two decades but previous attempts to dismantle the regulations failed miserably.

NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

Even Ukrainians locked in a conflict with their major energy supplier Russia currently have a better deal on gas prices than the Manx people.

Following revelations this week that Manx Gas would simultaneously cut prices but increase standing charges if we are not there already Manx people are certainly close to facing the highest prices in Europe for Gas.

In such a situation one would have thought the government would be taking a lead role in addressing what may as autumn turns to winter become a crisis.

NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

Eventually after much trumpeting and a ‘media love-in’ that had become almost nauseating at times the Manx Reserve Force has ‘dug in’ at a disused school on the Isle of Man.

The Reserves have unveiled ‘50’ new recruits although figures are distorted somewhat by talk of 150 expressions of interest after ‘military-fest’ on Douglas promenade in the spring of this year.

NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

The Celtic League have written to the Canadian High Commissioner expressing outrage that Canadian authorities tried to resolve via a ‘back room deal’ allegations about a so called ‘tax sham’ involving the Isle of Man which was exposed via the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.

Earlier this week CBC in an update said ‘confidential discussions’ between authorities and the firm involved had broken down and the matter was proceeding in the Federal Courts (see link):

NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

The ‘KPMG Tax Sham’ involving the Isle of Man reported last month by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation continues to reverberate according to further reports by the Corporation.

It is now understood up to 25 people may have used the ‘tax plan’ which Canadian Revenue authorities are pursing.

CBC also report that attempts to settle the issue quietly have broken down (link):

NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

The Celtic League has pressed the OECD over the value of so called Tax Information Exchange Agreements (TIEAs) following allegations in Canadian Broadcasting Corporation news reports alleging tax evasion earlier this month news.

A TIEA is in place between the Isle of Man and Canada.

OECD letter text below:

“Pascal Saint-Amans
Director
Centre for Tax Policy Information
OECD

By email

28th September 2015

Dear Sir,