Ayre - Thurston Arrowsmith

PERSONAL

My name is Thurston Arrowsmith and I live in Ramsey. I keep a vegetable plot in Sulby, and do gardening, tree planting, and keep bees. I try to live simply.

I helped set up a fruit garden and a wildlife/ wildflower area at Sulby school. Some may know me from my involvement in the Silverdale tree protest. Although I may be known for my 'environmental' views I have no wish to impose these views on you, the electorate.

POLICY

I have no policy other than to attempt to bring in more democracy by -

1. ALLOWING YOU THE VOTER TO VOTE ON EACH ITEM ON THE TYNWALD AGENDA PAPER BEFORE TYNWALD SITS.

2. ALLOWING YOU THE VOTER TO INTRODUCE BILLS.

3. OPENLY DISCUSSING MATTERS AT REGULAR PUBLIC MEETINGS.

4. AVOIDING ALL GOVERNMENT POSTS AND COMMITEES - ANSWERABLE TO ONLY YOU THE ELECTORATE.

Meetings would be held a day or two before each & every Tynwald sitting; because of the geographical nature of Ayre there would be one meeting in Sulby, one in Andreas, and one in Bride. I would post a notice to each household stating when & where the meetings would take place, and when & where the agenda paper would be posted up. The Tynwald Agenda paper would be posted up in Sulby, Andreas, and Bride as soon as it was published. Apologies to those living in outlying areas- I'm afraid you'll have to check the Tynwald agenda on Manx Radio then phone me your vote- I don't have all the answers! All would be welcome but voting would be restricted to those registered in Ayre constituency. A check on the electoral roll would have to be made as people enter the hall. People will have a chance to air their views before voting commences. I will have to present a summary of the relevant reports, documents and papers which MHK's are given. Priority will have to be to establish a majority decision (more than 50% of those expressing an opinion) on whether I am to vote for, against, or abstain on each item in that week's Tynwald. In addition to the 'show of hands', voting could also take place by phone, but remember, as someone once said "the world is run by those who turn up!". There may be occasions where you make me vote for something which I personally don't agree with- I still have to vote on your decision.

After that voting, bills to be set before Tynwald could be brought forward by constituents, discussed, and eventually, voted on.

I will attempt to formally put forward in Tynwald any question to another MHK given to me by a constituent.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN...?

...another MHK pulls some important evidence 'out of a hat' in Tynwald just before the vote?

- I admit this is a disadvantage of my proposed system. I see this as a fault of 'closed government'. I would have to 'sit tight' and vote the way it was decided in Sulby, Andreas, and Bride. However, when you consider that most MHK's seem to make up their minds before walking into the Tynwald building, my 'mandate from Ayre' won't be much different .

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN...?

...I have to vote on an amendment suddenly introduced in Tynwald that day ...?

- I would have to abstain.

SALARY

I would take only £50 per week to cover expenses (plus the cost of hiring halls). The remainder would go into a trust accessed not by me but by three elected trustees- one from Lezayre, one from Andreas and one from Bride, and disposed of as the community sees fit.

SWEARING OF ALLEGIANCE

Whilst I bear no ill will to HM the Queen, I am not happy about swearing allegiance to the Queen. I would however be glad to swear allegiance to the Manx Nation and/or God. I don't consider myself a nationalist, or a royalist, or an anti-royalist. I believe an oath is a promise and I don't want to make a promise I can't keep. I only mention this in case it becomes a problem, which I hope it doesn't.

CONTACT

If you wish to make comments or ask questions, please don't hesitate to contact me:

Flat 3 Bankers court, Albert St., Ramsey, IM8 1JF

telephone-814 022: mobile -439076

email: thurston@arrowsmith.iofm.net

Published by Thurston Arrowsmith, Flat 3 Bankers court, Albert St., Ramsey, IM8 1JF

Printed from the IoM Elections Website. www.iomelections.com

REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLE ACT 1995

PLEASE NOTE The views and opinions stated within this manifesto are those of the electoral candidate and not those of 3 Legs Limited or its staff. Inclusion within this website does NOT represent any endorsement of this candidate by 3 Legs Limited. 3 Legs Limited is politically neutral in respect to this website and its contents. The above text was provided by the election candidate.  3 Legs Limited is not liable for any errors or omissions. E&OE