Chris Thomas has been a regular thorn in government’s side since the Chief Minister asked him to vacate his office. In recent months he’s been championing the cause of local government and he has an interesting take on the current leadership in the Isle of Man Government. Expect an interesting , wide ranging discussion and if you listen very carefully you might just spot the bombshells.

On last week’s Agenda Lawrie Hooper called out government for requiring higher pay for migrant workers than Manx workers but was he right? The Treasury Minister doesn’t think so and he puts his case to Agenda. Mr Hooper also suggested he would pull his Tynwald motion on releasing more detail about school assessments if the Education Minister conceded an improved position. The motion wasn’t moved so Agenda asks the Minister what did she do to pacify Mr Hooper. Is a war of words developing in Ramsey between the town’s MHKs?

In last week’s sitting of the House of Keys Lawrie Hooper asked the Enterprise Minister Tim Johnston “Whether the Minimum Wage will be increased to £13.05 by 1st October 2025 to reach equivalence with the minimum salary threshold for Worker Migrant visas at that date? In an interesting exchange it emerged that government’s position appears to be that it didn’t want migrant workers to undercut Manx workers in the job’s market. Of course that then means that the minimum wage for immigrant workers is higher than that for Manx workers. We’ll also hear from Dawn Kinnish MLC who’s taking her first Bill through LegCo which has just the faintest hint of poacher turned game keeper.

It's the first time in 100 years that a sitting president came over to the Island to meet with volunteers.

Rotary provides service and goodwill to create lasting change with three branches locally of Douglas, Onchan and Rushen & Western Mann.

President Stephanie Urchick has described this visit as 'a special one'

Dr Edward Fitzgerald is the Health Equity and Access Co-Lead at KPMG International and Head of Healthcare & Life Sciences at KPMG Islands Group. He talks to Agenda about health care policy and the policy differences of delivering health services in Island situations. With spiralling health costs threatening the economic development of the Island he has some important lessons for us on how we can improve our health services and make them affordable. A useful dose of health policy medicine from the good doctor.

A few May Tynwald leftovers on Agenda this week. Some conflicting views on the 20mph zones proposed for the Island. What was Ann Corlett MHK looking for when she first raised the subject in Tynwald? DoI Minister Michelle Haywood MHK offered a consultation olive branch which some members were loathe to accept. And how an innocent little question on economic growth developed into a full blown warts and all debate. No angsty engine revving on this week’s show, just a gentle tour through the speed limit question.

The Global Minimum Tax (Pillar Two) Order 2024 (Confirmation) Bill 2025 received its principles stage reading at last week’s sitting of the Legislative Council. While the Bill’s title is to say the least a little bureaucratic it cements in Manx law an ability to bring in much needed tax revenue to Treasury while not impacting on the Isle of Man’s competitiveness. Find out more about the Bill and the role of a Member of the Legislative Council from Gary Clueit MLC on this week’s Agenda. Tax and legislation can be fun …. honest!

Just over a month ago Perspective heard from Robert Morrey who explained his plan to build an anaerobic digestor and energy hub at Andreas. Just over a week ago a group of farmers and government officials visited Scotland to see how AD plants work. I joined them as an independent observer and this week’s Agenda gives the farmers’ view on how energy crops could work for Manx agriculture. Some positive news for farmers and more stable energy bills …. but will government back it?