Open and Accountable Representation

Openness should not begin a few months before an election and disappear once the votes have been counted.

For the past ten years, I have tried to make my work as a Ramsey Town Commissioner visible to the public. I have maintained the same Facebook page throughout that time, regularly sharing information, explaining my views, raising concerns and answering questions.

I have also worked to make the Commission itself more transparent.

During my first term, I brought forward the proposal allowing residents to submit questions for a public answer at a Board meeting.

I later proposed the livestreaming of Board meetings, secured the support of the Board and helped overcome the practical issues so that livestreaming began in May 2022.

In 2025, I proposed the introduction of twice yearly public accountability meetings, giving residents an opportunity to question the Commission directly. The first meeting was held in September 2025.

I have held public online question and answer sessions since 2018 and, in recent years, have made these a regular monthly event around the Board meeting. I do not select only the convenient questions. I answer what is put to me, including difficult questions. Sometimes the honest answer is that I do not know, need to find out more or cannot discuss something confidentially. That is still better than avoiding the question.

This is not a new approach adopted for an election campaign. It is how I have conducted myself throughout my time in public office.

If elected as an MHK for Ramsey, I will continue to hold a live public question and answer session every month and use my public page to discuss Ramsey issues, government decisions and matters before Tynwald.

I will continue regular constituency surgeries and arrange additional face to face meetings where there is a clear need or demand. If somebody contacts me, I will respond, keep them informed and be honest about what I can and cannot do.

Where I take a position or cast a vote, I will be willing to explain my reasoning, whether I have supported government or challenged it. I will also declare my interests properly and manage any genuine conflict openly.

There will always be legitimate limits to what can be made public. Constituents must be able to speak to their MHK in confidence, and legal, personal or commercially sensitive information must be protected. However, confidentiality should not be used as a convenient excuse to avoid explaining public decisions.

My commitment is straightforward: I will remain visible, accessible and answerable throughout the term, not only when the next election approaches.