My estimate of the UK VAT subsidy to the Isle of Man is £230 million a year.
I forgot the £40 million defence subsidy. Others did not.
Oh, to be fiscally irresponsible in Douglas.
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Defence subsidy? There is no defence subsidy. What you fail to grasp is that, like Jersey and Guernsey, the Isle of Man is a de facto foreign country that is not part of the United Kingdom and has a limited relationship with the British Crown, administered by the British Parliament. Our defence contribution is not intended to fund the UK military; it is essentially an insurance payment, should we require the UK to act militarily on our behalf. The likelihood of that being necessary is minuscule (who would wish to invade us?), so this is one cost that could be saved were we to become independent.
As for the Isle of Man Pensioners’ Association, words fail me. A group of people who move to another country in order to dodge death duties, contributing relatively little to its economy whilst making significant use of its free healthcare — then start stirring up trouble when they’re denied a pension supplement from a national insurance system into which they haven’t paid? I’m surprised at you for giving these people’s views credibility, although maybe you’re working from the standpoint that “the enemy of my enemy is my friend”.
Iliam
Sorry – that’s just not credible
The IoM is a Crown Dependency – a part of the UK. It’s no de facto country.
Give up your fantasy. It doesn’t wash with those of us in the real world
Richard
“The IoM is a Crown Dependency – a part of the UK.”
Nonsense. Try five minutes’ desk research. The Crown Dependencies are NOT part of the UK, and never have been — just as the Overseas Territories are not.
Respectfully, you are damaging your credibility here if you continue to publish blatant falsehoods that your readers can easily confirm for themselves.
Iliam
You are, of course, entirely legally correct
And entirely wrong at the same time
The Turks & Caicos self governed – until the UK decided otherwise. we did not invade. We did not break the law. We just took over, as was our right. The form is independence. The substance is dependence. It is you who is stating a falsehood – not me.
And note whose passport you have – OK it might say IoM on it – but it’s a UK passport.
Stop being a pedant.
Richard
If I can be pedantic once more, my passport actually says “British Islands — Isle of Man”, with no mention of the United Kingdom.
Joking aside, the suspension of responsible government in Turks & Caicos actually illustrates the distinct legal position of the Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. The UK intends to restore home rule there as soon as possible, and has not attempted to bring the islands within the UK tax net, because it has no legal mandate to do so. That is why Turks & Caicos, Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man do not pay for the UK’s defence — merely for their own.
Before £40 million becomes your ‘truth’ or ‘fact’ be sure the calculation mechanism is appropriate. What should a defence subsidy be based on? Is there an already agreed metric? Why would a pensioners association ‘population method’ be considered credible?
One alternative method could be based on the value of all assets that are to be defended, not just the population. Given the assets the UK has to defend (people, infrastructure, business, monarchy etc) are massively greater in value than those of the Island (I expect you to say something disparaging at ths point) I guess the amount the Island has to pay is much closer to the amount actually paid.
Richard
I can’t beleive you have seriously posted the link to this incredibly crude calculation.
As its based on population numbers, do you agree it should be revised to reflect the fact that half of the residents of the Isle of Man are UK citizens?
In any case, I don’t believe Tynwald voted to go to war in Iraq so IOM probably shouldn’t be paying for a share of the war anyway.
That calcuation has more holes than Tony Blair’s case for war in Iraq!!!
Of course I’m not saying that this is the only basis for calculating this sum
Nor am I endorsing the source – any more than they are endorsing me
But they are making an entirely valid point
And like it or not – time and again I am now being proven right on these issues
So the problem is yours, not mine
Richard
I think Richard you’ll find the problem is yours.
Nobody else, who matters, seems to care about this so called subsidy.
Certainly not my problem!
Actually my uncle has solely a Manx passport (he had to get a visa to go to France about 5 years ago)
Take out the war in Afganistan that the Manx didn’t vote for and then recalculate.
HJang on all those claiming benefit in the UK are getting subsiidies too, disgraceful!
The IOM economy is inextricably linked to the UK on so many levels.
The defence element is not about the unlikely event of being invaded rather than long term strategic protection of the western world and its values and economic prosperity.
IOM and anyone else for that matter cant operate in a parallel universe but yet take advantage of the business and cultural world without backing up those values and taking responsibility like everyone else.
This applies to people in Skye, Anglesey and Scillies as much as Cardiff, Glasgow or London.
There’s a nice romantic glow that encourages a separatist mindset which comes from selective notions of history.
The length of time IOM was ‘administered’ from Lancashire far outweighs Viking occupation and most of the infrastructure enjoyed today came from the unselfconscious investment by Britain during the Empire – and IOM and every other territory at that time enjoyed the wealth, protection and pride in the success of the Empire and its global reach and power.
On what basis should the Isle of Man fund foreign Military campaigns?
The Isle of Man have no power to vote in Westminster.
So why should they be responsible for the costs of that war?