The General Election issues everyone’s talking about - and those they aren’t

A clear picture is beginning to emerge of the main issues dominating this year’s Isle of Man general election.

The cost of living and healthcare are understandably at the forefront, alongside the more politically contentious subjects of immigration and wind farms.

Other issues, however, appear to be taking more of a back seat, including mental health, the state of the prison and the controversial pension triple lock.

We take a look at the issues dominating election discussions - and some of those which arguably deserve more attention.

A handful of issues are dominating the election debate.

A previous Chief Minister said he wanted to increase the Island’s population to 100,000. However, concerns have been raised about who would make up that increase and the impact it could have.

The Island clearly needs more people to boost productivity, but many believe those moving here need to be of working age and able to contribute to the economy and society as a whole.

There are also concerns that a growing population could put additional strain on the health service and housing, while others worry about the potential impact on Manx identity and culture.

This is a particularly hot topic, with two major proposals attracting attention.

The proposed onshore Cair Vie wind farm at Earystane in the south of the Island would feature three or four turbines, although the project has been delayed by Manx Utilities while further environmental work is carried out.

But the bigger issue is the proposed Mooir Vannin offshore wind farm off the coast of Maughold, which has prompted vocal opposition to plans for 87 turbines, potentially reaching up to 350 metres high.

Orsted, the company behind the wind farm, has previously said Island customers could receive discounted electricity through a power purchase agreement and that the scheme could generate £2bn in tax and rent over its 35-year lifespan.

Opponents have raised concerns about the potential environmental impact on fish and bird migration, as well as the visual impact.

Questions also remain over whether any of the electricity generated would feed into the Island’s grid and exactly how high the turbines would be.

Healthcare is rightly a major issue in the 2026 election.

There has been a multimillion-pound overspend, while the last couple of years have seen elective surgeries cancelled, growing waiting times at A&E and continuing pressure on hospital beds.

Getting a GP appointment quickly can also be difficult, with patients often relying on the 8am scramble to secure an urgent appointment.

At one stage there was a five-year waiting list for an NHS dentist, although that is one area which has improved significantly over the last year or so.

Major problems remain and many voters will be keen to hear how candidates intend to address them.

However, other vitally important issues have received considerably less attention.

While healthcare generally is a major talking point, mental health has taken more of a back seat.

Perhaps it is partly the sensitive nature of the subject which makes it more difficult to discuss.

Suicide and self-harm are not easy subjects and cannot readily be packaged into a slick manifesto pledge.

But the issue is becoming increasingly serious. Too many people on the Island are taking their own lives, while many others struggle day-to-day without the support they need.

The difficulty is that any meaningful attempt to address the problems is likely to require significant investment, as well as a fundamental change in approach.

Perhaps the challenge is simply too large to tackle within a single election cycle.

Any candidate putting improvements to mental health services among their top election pledges is taking on a substantial challenge.

But the bottom line is that it deserves to be a major talking point during this election.

It is hardly the most exciting election topic - and it remains a political hot potato.

Tackling the pension triple lock offers no easy win for candidates. But it is nevertheless a hugely important issue.

Government officials have said the National Insurance Fund could be exhausted by 2047-48 if action is not taken.

Former Treasury Minister Dr Alex Allinson attempted to address the issue by proposing the replacement of the state pension triple lock with a double lock.

The triple lock means pensions rise each year by whichever is highest out of inflation, average wage growth or 2.5%.

Dr Allinson proposed that pensions should instead rise by either inflation or 2%, but pulled back from the change ahead of the 2025 Budget.

The issue has recently been raised by former Treasury Minister Eddie Teare, but it remains largely in the political shadows.

It is unlikely many candidates will hang their election campaigns on the issue, despite its profound long-term importance.

There has been some publicity recently surrounding conditions at Jurby after reports that prisoners staged a protest, claiming they were being held in cells for 23 hours a day because of staffing issues.

But concerns surrounding the prison have been building for some time, with Jurby close to full capacity. That has led to the introduction of prefab buildings to accommodate some inmates.

It also raises wider questions about the judicial system and sentencing, including debate over sentences handed to drug dealers compared with those received by some sex offenders.

It is perhaps surprising that the prison has not become a bigger election issue, given that questions around crime, punishment and public spending are likely to resonate with voters.

Several other issues sit somewhere in the middle - appearing on candidates’ agendas without necessarily dominating the campaign.

Housing is one of the most significant and has been a problem for years. There is a shortage of social housing, while many young people continue to struggle to get onto the property ladder.

Infrastructure is another wide-ranging concern, covering everything from schools and transport to leisure facilities. Many believe greater investment is needed, although the perennial question remains where the money will come from.

Education also remains an important issue and is regularly prominent in candidates’ manifestos, with staffing pressures among the concerns alongside the perennial debate over the curriculum.