The Leader of the Manx Nationalist Party, Mec Vannin, has launched a swingeing attack on Manx government policies in an address to a gathering to commemorate the execution of the Manx Martyr, Illiam Dhone on January 2nd at Hango Hill, Castletown.

Speaking in Manx Mark Kermode asked:

"What legacy will they (the Manx government) leave? Mannin for the Manx and our children, rich or poor, or a broken country to be sold to the man with the biggest wallet?"

He also likened the current administration to fools saying:

"the government in the Isle of Man has stumbled from crisis to crisis, trusting on the luck of fools to save it and, in truth, so far it has been successful. But with the luck of fools comes the arrogance of fools and too many members of the Keys believe that they actually control matters."

The Mec Vannin Chairman concluded by averring that:

"Tynwald was not a government working for Mannin and the Manx but a self preserving creature".

An English translation of Mr Kermode's speech is set out below:

"We must face economic reality". That's what Tony Brown, Chief Minister of the Isle of Man government told a newspaper last week. Where's he been living for the past five years?

Under Mr. Brown, the government in the Isle of Man has stumbled from crisis to crisis, trusting on the luck of fools to save it and, in truth, so far it has been successful. But with the luck of fools comes the arrogance of fools and too many members of the Keys believe that they actually control matters.

Since the debacle of the MEA six years ago, the government has been under a Sword of Damocles. Ireland's economy began to falter at the same time and it is now bankrupt and pleading for help. Wasn't that notice enough that the Celtic tiger is just a paper tiger and it is likely that the same could befall us? Did any politician attempt to dampen the fire beneath us? No

Because the English government has increased VAT, the government here expects increased income but, with this tax, if people don't spend, then no income results. Yet again, we see the foolishness of the government's economic policy whereby we are dependent upon a tax over which we have no control.

Since ministerial government was imposed upon us twenty years ago, the truth is that each department and minister fight amongst each other for their share of the money and then spend it before the Treasury has a change of mind. I personally feel that this mess will continue as long as we have this system of government.

But why have we gathered here on this day each year. This is more than an opportunity to complain about the government. We are here to remember Illiam Dhone, his death and the things which lay behind this murder. Mannin was not a rich country before the disturbances of the time and he didn't rise against the Lord of Mann's wife to make the Manx richer.

He negotiated with English parliamentarians to save Mannin and the Manx from a bloody war and preserve the rights and liberties of the Manx that were under threat from the Lord of Mann. That's why Manx nationalists are so angry in this age. The first time I stood here to speak, almost twenty years ago, I said that Tynwald was not a government working for Mannin and the Manx but a self

preserving creature, working for its own preservation. That's why no-one has changed anything from within this creature. Illiam Dhone did not give his life for that. The members of Tynwald should think about that.

What legacy will they leave? Mannin for the Manx and our children, rich or poor, or a broken country to be sold to the man with the biggest wallet?"

Links below to CL News reports on previous Illiam Dhone commemorations

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J B Moffatt (Mr)

Director of Information

Celtic League

03/01/11

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