Political

Political

While the 2025/26 Budget was voted through Tynwald, it was one of the most opposed Budgets, certainly in recent memory.

A third of MHKs voted against the financial plan laid out in the Pink Book, with a total of eight members rejecting it.

All members of the Legislative Council supported it.

This is what those who opposed it had to say.

Lawrie Hooper

This is Mr Hooper's first Budget vote since he left the Council of Ministers.

He was made health minister shortly after the 2021 General Election.

Since resigning from that position  in October, the Ramsey MHK has been a vocal backbencher voicing his concerns about the direction government is taking the Island in.

He was among the members who believed the Budget shouldn't have even been debated in February's sitting of Tynwald because of the lack of time members had to consider it this year.

A revised version of the Pink Book was issued to members after the treasury minister backtracked on plans to remove the triple-lock guarantee for pensions just days before announcing the full Budget.

Mr Hooper accused the treasury minister of carrying out a 'straight up raid' of the NI fund for the healthcare budget.

He also believes Manx Care is being underfunded, and is concerned further cuts could be coming to frontline services as a result.

Juan Watterson

The Rushen MHK and Speaker of the House of Keys, who is no stranger to voting against a Budget, did so again this year mainly because he fundamentally disagrees with its process.

He made his 'annual plea' for more transparency and for members to have access to the Pink Book more than six days ahead of time.

More than that though, Mr Watterson also believes that despite the higher rate of Income Tax going down and the personal allowance being raised, it's still the 'squeezed middle' being hardest hit.

"This is a take it or leave it budgetary system. Balancing the books seems perpetually beyond the five year target." - Juan Watterson

Tim Glover

The Arbory, Castletown and Malew member was another one of those who voted against the Budget.

He says a big part of his opposition was, like Mr Watterson, around the Budget process as a whole - calling for the 'secrecy' to be removed and for members to have a month to consider the proposals being brought forward.

He shared a lengthy Facebook post explaining his views in detail.

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Julie Edge

Since losing the role of education minister last year, the Onchan MHK has been an outspoken critic of the direction of government.

Like Mr Hooper, this was her first Budget vote outside the Council of Ministers since 2021, and she reiterated her stance by voting against it.

She questioned whether the Budget is truly sustainable and fiscally responsible, claiming politicians aren't being given the full picture.

Ms Edge believes government spending is 'out of control', arguing the dependency on reserves is unacceptable and there's not enough of a focus on generating income.

Jason Moorhouse

The Arbory, Castletown and Malew member voted against the Budget last year and did so again this time.

While he praised the commitment to progress projects in his constituency like the new Castle Rushen High School, expanding Ballasalla Primary School and completing the Ballasalla bypass, he raised a number of concerns.

He claimed government was 'using the family silver to fill potholes' in its continued dependence on reserves.

Mr Moorhouse believes the Budget continues to make the 'squeezed middle' bear the brunt of the burden economically. 

He also shared the concerns of his colleagues around the state of the Island's healthcare system, questioning how it's funded and its performance.

John Wannenburgh

The Douglas North representative is another member who's regularly voted against Budgets since he was first elected in 2021.

This year, his concerns centred on government's continued use of reserves.

He doesn't believe it secures the future of the next generations.

Treasury claims it will continue to reduce its reliance on reserves over the next five years but is expecting to withdraw £110 million to balance the Budget in 2025/26, something Mr Wannenburgh has described as a concern.

He accused this Budget as an attempt to 'buy in votes' ahead of the next General Election.

Joney Faragher

The Douglas East MHK is someone else who has consistently voted against a number of proposals from the Cannan administration. 

During her speech to Tynwald she said since becoming an MHK in 2021, all of her speeches responding to Budget proposals have repeatedly raised the same issues, which she doesn't believe have ever been address.

They include education spending not matching the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's (OECD) global average, heavier taxation policies for the wealthiest in society and the proper addressing of the healthcare funding gap.

She too believes a more transparent process for the Budget is necessary.

Chris Thomas

From backbencher to minister to backbencher to minister and back to backbencher again, Mr Thomas' political career since he was first elected in 2016 has been varied.

In this current administration, since losing his job as infrastructure minister in 2023, the Douglas Central MHK has vocally opposed the direction of government, even going as far as to put himself forward as an alternative candidate for chief minister during the vote of no confidence in Alf Cannan.

He also agreed with Mr Hooper that the debating of it should be delayed after last minute changes were made to the Pink Book.

But his concerns this year were on the continued drawing down of funds from our reserves and a lack of investment in capital projects to improve our educational facilities away from Castle Rushen High School.

He also accused this Budget of being an opportunity for electioneering.