We may be more than two years away from the next general election, but constituents of Douglas East already have their first candidate.

Kevin Oliphant-Smith says he will stand for the House of Keys in the next election, due for September 2021.

Mr Oliphant-Smith, who runs The Loft cafe in Duke Street, said he feels that the current Keys is ’not reflecting the interests of the people’.

He added: ’My life experience, both good and bad, has led to me wanting to help others. But I don’t see what the Keys are doing that really helps the ordinary people in the street.

’I didn’t think that we could have a government worse than the last one but this administration has all the appearance of a golf club that is too close to the Chamber of Commerce.’

Mr Oliphant-Smith was elected as a councillor in Douglas in 2016. But he resigned in six weeks, citing personal reasons.

He announced he was going to stand for the 2016 general election in 2015 but in the end didn’t.

He told iomtoday.co.im he announced his candidacy early because he wants to break the mould of traditional politics.

He said: ’I know tradition is for candidates to wait until the last minute to announce they are standing but look where tradition has got us.

’I had a lot of people who know me asking if I was standing and I’d told a few so thought I may as well announce.

’I think when people announce at the last minute it doesn’t give constituents long enough to get to know them and it doesn’t give the candidates a lot of time to get round.’

While declaring early could open Mr Oliphant-Smith to more scrutiny than other candidates in other seats, he said ’it is part of seeking people’s support’.

One of the current members Chris Robertshaw MHK has previously indicated that he will not seek re-election in 2021.

The constituency’s other MHK is Clare Bettison, who was first elected in 2016.