It was the biggest event of the political year this week - the government’s Budget.

The Treasury Minister laid out how the government would spend its money.

It’s essential reading if you are paying for a state pension.

There’s also good news for the police force.

We detail how much is being spent per person and on what.

And there’s plenty more in our four pages of coverage.

Also this week:

What do you think of a plan for a car park on the old Summerland site?

And there’s bad news for people who use Chester Street car park.

We also report on a school that’s written to parents after children were involved in an art project that was overseen by a photographer who subesquently was convicted of possessing indecent images.

The Post Office says it’s coming up with a revised proposal to end the post dispute.

A proposal to create hundreds of jobs in Ramsey could be thwarted, as the Examiner reported. Treasury Minister Alfred Cannan isn’t chuffed about it, he tells the Manx Independent.

A fashion designer who was raised in the Isle of Man has received the QEII Award for Design at London Fashion Week. She was presented it by the Duchess of Cornwall.

It’s the end of an era as the last Hogg Auction is held.

There’s a lot of court news in the paper.

We report on the delivery driver who stole lots of i-phones. He has been sentenced.

A drug-dealer from Ramsey found with more than £1,000 worth of cannabis and £1,200 in cash was punished too.

A case involving a bomb hoax also reaches its end.

And a man who spat in the face of a police officer discovered his fate.

This week’s Manx Independent has had a slight revamp as we introduce our fantastic new Food and Farming section.

It means we’ve moved the business news and we’ve been able to give the readers’ photos a better display.

One thing that hasn’t moved is our Island Life entertainments and leisure section.

The island is home to international best-selling author Alan Bradley. You can find out more about him on the front of Island Life.

We also preview the International Bonnag Competition - plus there is a picture special on ’Just Keep Swimming’ performed by the Dancers Barre school, based in Laxey.

Plus there’s your seven-day television guide, the Isle of Man’s What’s On guide, a look forward to the weekend’s sport and lots of community news.

The Manx Independent is in the shops now.

But you don’t have to go to a shop to buy a copy.

You can also read it online if you buy the digital edition.

To find out how to buy it, go to the ’Digital Editions’ section of the website on the grey line near the top of this site.

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