Island's 'influential friends' on guest list - Rodan
Guests of honour are invited to Tynwald Day as parliamentarians, not for their political views - so says the President of Tynwald Steve Rodan.
A member of Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party, MP for East Belfast Gavin Robinson is one of 14 guests welcomed at this year's ceremony.
His party is playing a key role in the formation of a UK government, but has been criticised for its social policies - the DUP has opposed LGBT rights, condemned homosexuality and is anti-abortion.
Mr Rodan says it's important the Island is outward looking, and has influential friends:
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