Jane Kelly is the Emergency Planning Officer for the Isle of Man Government and leads the Civil Defence team. We’ve probably all relied on her team’s expertise during storm and weather events, and though we might not know it we are all a lot safer because of the plans she and her team have created for the unlikely but possible emergency events we could face. Find out more about her work on Perspective. Are we becoming too reliant on government to solve all our problems and could we perhaps do a bit more to help our selves?

On Perspective this week we hear from local historian John Manley about his research into the history of Ballamona Hospital. Prior to Ballamona life in the Isle of Man for people with mental illness was pretty bleak so the opening of a dedicated hospital to provide care was a major step forward. The hospital closed in the 1990s as it was deemed to be better to support people in the community.

It’s probably not unreasonable to say that over the past year Perspective has delivered a fair proportion of political angst and reflected the increasing polarisation of political debate. As it’s Christmas and we reflect on Christian messages of hope and peace I thought for the last Perspective of 2025 we should give you a more positive and encouraging program. Michael Manning, the eighth Manx Bard has recently published a collection of his poetry titled Graih. Michael Manning want’s to sing some new songs of hope and positivity. Will anyone listen? Let’s hope so.

And it came to pass that there came unto Manx Radio’s studio three wise men, one formerly from Douglas East, bringing with them gifts of gall, frank insights and mirth. On Perspective we take an irreverent look back over 2025 - the good, the bad and the ugly …. and that’s just the guests. Is instability the new political norm and if so what is that doing the frayed nerves of citizens here and across the world? With the hospitality sector struggling to make ends meet is it any wonder that there was no room in the inn! Nollick Ghennal Erriu!

December Tynwald extended into a third day with members keen to milk every minute of debating time as we enter election year. Questions strayed into a lively debate on the state of the Manx economy, with Ministers doing their best to look for positives while questioners being a little less optimistic. There was also a question on support for first time buyers with several members trying to pin the blame for the very slow pace of change on either their predecessors or successors. Plenty of stars rising in the East in this week’s Tynwald.

You may have noticed that local authorities have been sharpening their pitchforks and gathering fiery brands as they attempt to oppose a new piece of law which would give government power to impose functions and standards on them. Government’s position appears to be that local Commissioners and Councillors shouldn’t be able to shirk their statutory responsibilities and Legislative Council has been drafted in to try to broker the peace. Also, a Tynwald committee is gently nudging government to properly register all the land it owns. Does government know what it owns? Pitchforks at dawn on a misty field that may or may not belong to government. A Perspective not to be missed.

With Leigh Morris vacating his leadership role in the Manx Wildlife Trust earlier this year Graham Makepeace-Warne took over as CEO. He tells Perspective why the Isle of Man needs a Wildlife Trust and what his organisation supports. He explains why wildlife needs our help and we enjoy some of the benefits that being out in the wild in the winter time can have for our health and well being. Species and habitat destruction has been incredibly prolific over the passed half century or so with over 70% of the world’s wildlife lost. It seem that talking about the Birds and the Bees has never been more necessary!

What some thought would be a quick and relatively pain free Tynwald sitting turned into a two-and-a-half day marathon which saw all manner of unexpected and shock votes.

Castle Rushen High School, MONEYVAL, disincentives to maintain empty properties and MiCard are just a few of the biggest talking points.

Christian Jones goes through them in a bit more detail in Perspective.