The island’s only mayor says he would fight ’tooth and nail’ to ensure the role is kept, and insists it provides ’very good value’ for the people of Douglas.

Jonathan Joughin was selected by councillors to continue for a second year in office at a meeting held last week.

He says it’s an honour to be invited to carry on for another term.

Mr Joughin worked in the island’s postal service for 40 years but he has now retired from that.

He has been a councillor for five years and was briefly an MHK for Douglas East.

He was first elected mayor in 2018.

The Mayor of Douglas is not like Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London.

Mr Khan’s role is political. He is directly elected and makes policy and determines budgets.

The Mayor of Douglas chairs meetings of the council, represents the town at events, and entertains dignitaries.

Council leader David Christian wields the most political power in the council.

Fundraising work also forms a major part of the role, with the mayor’s charity fund this year supporting SSAFA Isle of Man, the Rotary Club of Douglas, and Special Olympics Isle of Man.

Proceeds from events like the Mayor’s Ball, which raised £5,000, all go towards topping up this fund.

Douglas Council has budgeted around £100,000 annually over the last two years for the office of mayor. That’s changed to £65,820 for the year 2019-20 due to a change in accounting practices by the council.