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Rodan hits out over Lib Dem peer's 'arrogance'
THE height of arrogance!
That's the view of Speaker of the House of Keys Steve Rodan on controversial comments made by Lib Dem peer Lord Wallace of Saltaire who suggested that the Isle of Man should lose its autonomy.
>> English lord calls or an end to Manx self-rule
13 August 2009
>>Download a PDF copy of the letter here
The Lib Dem foreign affairs spokesman argued that the constitutional relationship of the Isle of Man, and other Crown Dependencies, with the UK should be 'reviewed' and our autonomy was 'no longer appropriate' given that we are now major financial centres.
Now Mr Rodan has written a hard-hitting letter to Lord Wallace, telling him he had read his comments with 'considerable dismay'.
He told him: 'I do find it sad that as a student of history, and president of the Liberal Democrat history group, you should have so little appreciation of the fact that today's nations and communities are a product of historical circumstance – in the case of the Isle of Man, we have had a thousand years of our own tradition.
'We never have been (nor ever will be) part of the political union of nations known as the United Kingdom. It is the height of arrogance to suggest we ought to be.'
The Speaker's letter continues: 'The Isle of Man does not cost the UK a penny. We pay our own way in the world – every pound spent here is raised here; no block grants, subventions, special funding from the UK, the EU or any one else.
'By statute our Finance Minister is obliged to balance for a budget surplus – this is done consistently; with no external borrowing, and rates of taxation which actually encourage private enterprise and wealth creation, yet this little nation can still point to first-class publicly financed services in health, education and social security.
'The way we organise ourselves financially passes muster – the OECD, G20 and others tell us we are an internationally responsible jurisdiction. With such evidence that we are indeed "competent to manage our own affairs" – why on earth would we want to be part of the UK?'
Mr Rodan, a one-time active Lib Dem party member himself, said he was greatly concerned that Lord Wallace's views could reflect Lib Dem policy towards the Isle of Man.
'This is not the Liberal Party or the Liberalism I remember,' he writes.
He adds: 'Today I have the privilege to be Speaker of the House of Keys in the Isle of Man. As present occupant of this ancient post, I can tell you that such is the sturdy independence of the Manx people that we will vigorously resist any of your ideas to abolish our status as a proud self-governing community in the British Isles, or incorporate us into the UK.'
Mr Rodan said he would be pleased to meet with Lord Wallace in London or better still in the Isle of Man to discuss these issues.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Send your comments to newsviews@newsiom.co.im
YOUR COMMENTS
Well done Mr Rodan! The only thing that confused me when that English fool of a lord decided to have his rant was how he expected to get an autonomous state to relinquish its power. They can say what they want and pass whatever laws they want, but as long as we have our own government would we not still be in control of ourselves and thus free to ignore them? What would they do? Invade and conquer? I doubt it.
SS
I agree. It's about time our government stood up to all the back stabbing by UK politicians and the slander flung at us from the rest of the world. If the Island was a business it'll be suing the UK, US, EU and any other nation who accused it of being a tax haven and money laundering jurisdiction. As for Lord Wallace's comments, it becoming clearer by the day that any benefits of being associated with the UK are vastly being reduced, maybe we should go the whole way and break completely free of the UK yoke and declare independence and complete autonomy to govern ourselves (as our laws still have to be approved by the UK).
TIM K
As a proud Manxman I'm delighted that Mr. Rodan has sent a stinging letter to this so called Lord Wallace (Wally more like) - yet another example of the arrogance stemming from people within UK politics who haven't a clue on the history and modern governing of our Nation, of whom I'm sure the UK could take a few tips from. When you compare UK towns of similar populations to the IOM, I know who's camp I'd rather be in. I doubt very much "Lord" would venture over to the Island - If he did, maybe Tynwald Day would be a good time to visit...
NS
Steve Rodan's letter to Lord Wallace probably reflects the feelings of a 'Manxman' reacting emotionally rather than considering the realities of a developing world. I am not sure of the relevance of his comment on Historians, history is a piece of knowledge that was relevant to a previous period in social and economic systems. (I haven't looked up a definition for 'history'.) We seem to be biased in the way we select historical data to support and argument, or teach it as part of a strategy to manage the electorate. Traditions can sometimes become dogma and nor longer suit current trends. It is noticeable that every time someone suggests that a change is required that our politicians go into a frenzied denial. They come round eventually to the need for change, talk to Minister Bell. Also, how many of our island population can be labelled 'Manxman' and support Mr Rodan's attitude?
MOSSES
Careful Mosses there's a lot more Manxmen and woman than you give us credit for. Keep it up Steve well spoken. A voice for the voters
PAUL
Sir Full marks to Mr Rodan for his rebuttal,surely nobody who is here in IOM of their own free will can disagree. 'Mosses' as they call themselves must surely be an odd one out,but then I suppose there is always one! His last remark about how many people here are(true] Manxmen really raised a laugh in our household. How many people in,say,England are English by the same token. Speaking as a 'stopover' I am here because I subscribe to the ethos of Manxmen,and I want to stay that way,and would gladly do whatever is needed to keep the island out of the clutches of the UK government,especially the current one,and even more especially the EU.
MIKE H
As a child in the IOM I remember a time when the IOM was virtually unknown by the southern parts of England. In those days our income was generated from tourism and fishing and the English government did not want to have anything to do with us, never mind take us over. We survived independently and did not ask or require any help from England. Now it is interesting that they (the English Government) are in a complete mess financially and in every other way, they are wishing to take us over - perhaps as they perceive it, to help them with their debts. Well done Mr Rodan!
HHM
Speaker Rodan forget to mention that the Isle of Man is not a state. It is part of the British state. None of its laws can be passed without prior agreement with London. All laws require Royal Assent/Governor's assent on occasions. Being a Crown Dependency means that power to govern is pendant from the Crown (aka London/Whitehall/Westminster). Isle of Man Government does not legally exist as Island's own High Court has decided in past. Only its Departments legally exist as IOM Govt is British Govt with another hat on. It is devolved govt. London gave authority and direction to the Island to negotiate and sign all recent tax information and exchange agreements but UK ultimately responsible. The Island balances budget because there is no Westminster MP to sit in on Supply Vote so Westminster imposes a balanced budget law. Even income tax on the Island was forced through in 1918 by threats from Westminster which even now retains power to legislate over and above Tynwald...The Governor appoints the Chief Minister and empowers Ministers by warrant. Likewise, no one on the Island owns their own property. You own a Freehold or part of a Freehold. All that means is that you do not pay rent to the Crown which gave up that right centuries ago. The Freehold now is just the right to hold land free of annual rent that is why it is Freehold. The land and proprty still belongs to the Crown (ake UK Westminster etc)...It is a Crown Dependency remember...Of course in a democracy they have to buy or pay for that Freehold if they want it to use it!....Vast amounst of Manx land are Crown Land adopted on a care basis by Isle of Man Govt which does not exist see above so when you put it all together there is not much to be proudly independent about now is there?
BARRIE STEVENS
Lets be Frank the "independence" of the IOM is something that we trumpet when it suits us. If the UK decided to close or restrict its borders in some way the island could not exist, if they decided to put tariffs on Manx goods and services we could not trade, if it went to war we could not defend ourselves. We are tolerated and we are vunerable.
PS
To those dismissing manx claims of independence, etc, etc. Yes what you say maybe true about how the relationship between the Isle of Man and the UK exists, so this is very reason it should be changed, but changed to our favour – lets remove the those shackles you mentioned Barrie Stevens – let's make the Isle of Man a truly independent nation and finally get a voice in the bigger world outside the UK, because the UK certainly isn't championing us at any level – it's too busy playing footsie with the US and the EU for its own benefit and not for the benefit of itself and its crown dependencies. As for your comments PS about the island being unable to survive if the UK closed or restricted its borders with us – have you forgotten there's another landmass to the west of us called Ireland, maybe we could get a better deal there, and it would be another gateway into the EU. Crown dependencies is also a bygone phrase that has no actual meaning anymore – who do we need protecting against, no one is going to attack us physically as you suggested PS. We are not dependent on the UK, Westminster does not contribute to the running of the island in any form. No taxation without representation, etc, etc, etc.
TIM K
Nice to see a well thought out response from a local HOK member and not some bumbling rubbish about a 'Thomas the tank engine theme park' or 'touch screen to help people get jobs' Well done Steve!
PS
Congratulations to Mr Rodan-a precisely and succinctly put exposition of the status of the nation that is the Isle of Man. I would also like to add that,to quote the UN Charter: Article 1 in both the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)(8] and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR).(9] Both read: "All peoples have the right of self-determination. By virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development."
Further to that it states: The charter and other resolutions did not insist on full independence as the best way of obtaining self-government, nor did they include an enforcement mechanism. I think any UK Government would be very hard pushed to prove that its assuming any further control over this Crown Dependency would be justified or necessary,except in the case of beligerent self interest.
BRIAN
Well done Mr Speaker for putting your point of view to Lord Wallace. However, the actual legal reality is somewhat different. As a life long student of British constitutional law, the legal status of the Crown Dependencies (the Isle of Man, and the Bailiwicks of Guernsey and Jersey) is ultimately anything but self-governing. As dependencies of the Crown they are administered by the UK Ministry of Justice. Apart from the Lt Governor their are at least three senior Crown appointments, the holders of which take an oath, upon assuming office, to the Crown. These posts are the First and Second Deemster and the Attorney General, the latter post being Her Majesty's Attorney General for the IOM. The UK Government has a legal and constitutional responsibility to ensure "the good government" of the dependencies. This means that if anything happens which the UK government does not consider to be "good government" they can take action to rectify the situation. An example of this in action took place in Jersey in the early 1990s. The then UK Home Secretary, Kenneth Clark, dismissed the then deputy bailiff of Jersey (a post similar to that of the Second Deemster in the IOM) without consulting the local administration. As this was a Crown appointment he was exercising his constitutional right as a Privy Councillor. Although there was outrage in Jersey there was nothing that the local administration could do about it. They were legally powerless to act. The authority to ensure the "good government" of the Crown dependencies rests with the Privy Council in London. They are not anserable to the UK Parliament or anbody else. In theory they could have a meeting this evening and suspend or disband the local legislatures in all three dependencies if they so wished and impose direct rule through the Lt Governor. I have been saying for the last 25 years that the most important issue for the Crown dependencies is to get their modern constitutional position agreed in writing with the UK government so that these legal powers currently vested in the Privy Council and effectively exercised by the UK Government cannot be used. We need a constitution drawn up and approved by the UK and the United Nations. Readers will have noted that the UK Government have just imposed direct rule on the Turks and Caicos Islands through the UK appointed Governor. Although these Islands are a Crown colony, they have been internally self governing with their own legislature since the 1970s. When the chips are down that counts for nothing. The IOM has a thousand years of history which it should take steps to ensure are fully preserved.
COLIN SLINN
Lord Wallace's comments might have had more credence with me if it came from someone who has a mandate from the UK electorate. He is of course entitled to an opinion but he is an unelected member of the largest trough, sorry, dining club in UK. He stood five times as a Liberal candidate and failed on each occasion to win a seat. His only real claim to fame in politics is that he wrote David Steel's speeches. And for those who believe that the Privy Council is the be-all and end-all take a look at the Council's website: www.privy-council.org.uk and you will see that even the Lord President of the Council is another unelected, mandateless crony who is none other than Peter Mandelson. In fact nearly 60% of the current Councellors are unelected. So as far as I am concerned the UK Government, Privy Council and any other would be Crown Dependency bashers can go and sling their hook. Get your own house in order first before opening your mouth.
ANDY, Onchan.
The only good thing that can be said about Lord Wallace is that he is required to pay 10% of his parliamentary salary into his pension, and can only dream of the non-contributory, fully indexed pension account accumulating Manx taxpayers' funds willy nilly, as enjoyed by our own beloved members of Tynwald.
ANGRY MANXMAN
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