A Tynwald committee set up to investigate replacing the domestic rating system with a fair local services tax meets in private next week to consider written submissions and decide on its next step.

The committee was set up after restaurateur David Buttery’s petition for redress of grievance – presented in 2009 – was picked up by Douglas West MHK Chris Thomas.

Since then Mr Buttery has updated and broadened his original petition. As well as an island-wide local services tax –on the person not the property – he has called for local authority reform with four local authorities.

Services to be paid for by area would include libraries and civic amenity sites, while housing would be transferred to a non-profit making body.

Water would be metered and refuse would be paid for by weight.

Douglas Council was one of a number of local authorities to respond to the select committee. Following a two and a half hour debate on Friday, Victoria ward councillor David Ashford’s motion was approved to seek a revaluation of properties under the current system.

Mr Ashford said: ‘The system is not fundamentally broken, it is fixable.

‘The last revaluation was in the 1970s. That in itself has caused a lot of difficulties.’

Douglas Council also believes there will ‘never be true fairness in the rates until local government reform is undertaken’. It would like to see just five local authorities.

Mr Ashford said: ‘I believe the wrong question is being asked sometimes. People ask why Douglas rates are so high, I think it’s the opposite – why are some areas’ rates so low.’

It has also called for the committee’s remit to be widened to include the toilet tax.

The select committee, set up in March, must report back to Tynwald by October. Its chairman, Mr Thomas, said: ‘I am delighted with the engagement to date as I took up David Buttery’s petition to give the chance for people to participate in this debate about how we finance local provision, as I said in the March Tynwald.

‘Our committee can contribute to the mammoth task of making local service financing fairer, an issue with which Tynwald and government has struggled for several decades.’

The committee will meet in private on Thursday next week. Information is being collected on the domestic rates or equivalent systems in the UK, Jersey and Guernsey.

Its report is expected to feed into government’s review of the rating system, due to run from early 2015 to September 2016, and involve public consultation, legislation and valuation assessments.

Those more used to seeing the Isle of Man’s very own Guns ‘N’ Roses tribute band, 9 Bar Gypsies in full flight and full spandex, will get to hear a slightly more subtle side to them this Saturday.

The band more accustomed to sweating it out in the various Manx pubs and clubs, in a blaze of razor sharp guitar riffs and undisclosed amounts of Jack Daniels are stripping back their set to play acoustically for one night only.

Fans of Guns ‘N’ Roses will know that they have released various acoustic pieces throughout their career, most notably on their second release, Lies, from 1988. With that in mind, whatever 9 Bar Gypsies choose to play from the Guns ‘N’ Roses back catalogue in their set should transfer nicely to this acoustic setting. The band will be appearing in this acoustic guise at The Royal Hotel in Peel this Saturday.

As is customary for Amber in Douglas on the first weekend of the month, its club night takes place this Saturday under the moniker of ‘The Drop’.

The main room will have a mix of Rock, Metal, Punk, 80s, Ska, Electro, Indie, Funk and pretty much anything else you care to mention or request, whereas the second room hosted by Shaun Hogg will be a bit more specialist, showcasing Reggae and Ska. The doors open at 9pm and this event is free entry.

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Steve Leach brings the latest rumblings, murmuring, news and views on forthcoming events in and around the Manx music scene. Help support the scene by emailing leachsteve@hotmail.com

The innovative Western Open Studios Art Trail (WOSAT) opens its doors to the public over the coming May bank holiday weekend.

This year’s WOSAT (from May 3 to 5) sees many locally based artists and craftspeople open the doors of their studios to members of the public, and offers an intriguing and entertaining glimpse into the workings and the creative processes behind their individual works of art.

The events will be mainly centred around Peel, with other open events at the Isle Gallery at Tynwald Mills in St John’s, Kirk Michael and Patrick.

There will be the chance to watch wood carvers turn lumps of wood into bowls and sculptures, painters creating pieces from scratch, weavers at work and there will also be live firings of pots. All these will be complemented by children and family activities.

Also, Peel will be transformed into a colourful patchwork of rainbow woollen creations, as the latest Yarn Bomb event will hit when no-one is looking.

One place to head to is the Corrin Hall in Peel, which is new for this year. There will be a host of artists and craftspeople at work, from celebrated painters Bruno Cavellac and Juan Moore, to wood carvers, textiles artists from Sweet Ginger in Ramsey and many more. There will be opportunities to create your works of art too.

Here are some of the highlights to look forward to.

Trail guides are available – prior to the event – from the Isle Gallery; Light and Space Gallery in Castletown; Celtic Gold or House of Manannan, Peel; Sayle Gallery, Douglas; Sweet Ginger Emporium, Ramsey. Then during the weekend from: the Isle Gallery, Patrick Church, House of Manannan, Viking Longhouse, Corrin Hall and St German’s Cathedral, Peel.

Admission is £2 per person, children under-16 are free, plus the trail guide is an additional £2.

Matt Owen

Potter and clay sculptor Matt Owen will have live pot-turning demonstrations and also live Raku kiln firings in the grounds of St German’s Cathedral, Peel. This promises to be quite a spectacular sight, especially when the fired pots are brought out from the sawdust after they have cooled.

Graham Hall

Wood turner and carver Graham Hall will be at the Corrin Hall in Peel, and will be creating wooden bowls and pieces that bear relation to the work created by Matt Owen. Both artists explore similar organic themes to their work, and it will be interesting to see how the two different mediums can work together.

Nicola Dixon

The celebrated marine artist and painter, Nicola Dixon, will open the doors of her studio in Derby Road, Peel. Her bright, breezy and colourful paintings will be instantly familiar with many, and this is an opportunity to see how a painter captures her surroundings and turns them into creative works of art.

Yarn Bomb

For those of you who thought that knitting was restricted to bobble hats and ill-fitting cardigans will be forced to think again. Many of the island’s knitters have been hard at work since the start of the year, and their results will be scattered all over Peel throughout the weekend. Keep a close eye on the harbourside for anything slightly alien!

Laxey were crowned Appleby 15-17 League winners on Thursday evening after they beat Ramsey A 11-0.

Thursday, May 1

Kirby Estates Cowell Cup Group One

Rushen P-P Onchan

Appleby 15-17 League

Corinthians L-L St George’s

Ramsey A 0-11 Laxey

Peel 3-1 Union Mills

The Isle of Man’s hockey community prepares to welcome teams to ‘Hockfest’ this weekend, held in Cronkbourne.

Along with local clubs, there will be teams visiting from Warrington, London and even as far afield as sunny Spain, with Club Deportivo Open adding a touch of continental flair to the event.

As always, there is much planned and this year organisers are bring the carnival atmosphere of Rio de Janeiro to the island in a World Cup theme.

This should guarantee a huge level of competitiveness, whether it be on the hockey pitch or during the socials party games afterwards.

A mix of hockey skills, fancy dress creativity, karaoke caterwauling and dexterity over the inflatable assault courses will be required to emerge from the weekend as World Cup winning champions.

The event starts on Friday night at Nexus bar on Douglas Promenade, before the carnival starts on Saturday morning at Cronkbourne Sports and Social Club.

Dave Clark-Wilson

Saturday, May 3

Standard Bank Premiership (1pm)

Castletown v Conister Bank Valkyres

Shimmin Wilson Peel and St John’s v Baker Tilly IoM Cronkbourne

Ramsey v Nedbank Private Wealth Crosby

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Sunday, May 4

Under-9s Tournament (1pm)

At Ramsey

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Monday, May 5

Standard Bank Forrester One (6.30pm)

Conister Bank Valkyres B v Ronaldsway

Castletown B v Baker Tilly IoM Cronkbourne B

Shimmin Wilson Peel and St John’s B v Paddy Power Union Mills

Ramsey B v Nedbank Private Wealth Crosby B

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Tuesday, May 6

Standard Bank Cain League (6.30pm)

Shimmin Wilson Peel and St John’s A v Conister Bank Valkyres A

Ramsey A v Castletown A

Baker Tilly IoM Cronkbourne A v Nedbank Private Wealth Crosby A

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Wednesday, May 7

Standard Bank Forrester Two (6.30pm)

Shimmin Wilson Peel and St John’s C v Castletown C

Ramsey C v Finch Hill B

Baker Tilly IoM Cronkbourne C v Nedbank Private Wealth Crosby C

Cricket’s Standard Bank Premiership starts on Saturday with an explosive fixture at Mullen-e-Cloie.

The visitors are Cronkbourne, last season’s title winners, who take on Peel and St John’s who ended in the number two slot.

Many pundits believe the balance of power has now swung west over the winter with the arrival of Ollie Webster from Ramsey.

He was named Best All-Rounder of 2013 after taking 33 wickets and scoring 750 runs as well as winning the trophy for Best Fielder.

The club has also been boosted by the return to fitness of Russell Miller. He missed most of last season through injury, but expects to play a full role this year.

Life could be very difficult for Cronkbourne in this game as several of their top stars will be missing.

Likely to be absent are Max and Alex Stokoe, keeper Adam Killey and perhaps a couple more first team players.

The points system for the Premiership has changed this year with seven points going to the winning team. If the winners batted first and then dismissed their opponents, they will pick up an extra three points.

There are also bonus points to be earned for run totals of 125, 150, 175, 200 and 225.

For the bowling side, a bonus point is earned for taking two, four, six, eight or all 10 wickets.

More permutations are possible, so captains must be vigilant.

Cricket fixtures May 3-7.

Other games in the Premiership this weekend include Ramsey against Crosby.

The northern side have lost several players, including the influential Webster and strike bowler Chris McConnell who has been forced to retire through injury.

They now plan to rebuild by blooding younger players from their junior XIs.

Marc Pons-Burt is back to help steady the team, but much will depend on the old firm of Eddie Cleator and Rob Webber.

If Crosby can field their first XI, then the Marown side should record a victory.

There is an intriguing battle lined up in the south where Castletown face a rejuvenated Valkyres.

Mark Williams is the new captain of the home club and his tactical ability could be key.

Gareth Morris arrives back after a year’s sabbatical and Wicus Wessels, the island’s Player of the Year, will be a force.

However his availability might be limited, which could be a big blow for Town.

Tom Reader skippers Valkyres who now have Ryan Windell in their ranks full time together with the big-hitting Bruce Wagstaff from Union Mills.

The Valkyres’ batting has usually been strong, but the bowling has been a worry at times. Reader believes this will now change and promises the debut of a very good ‘mystery’ leg spinner.

l The island squad is to play Atherton in the Lancashire Cup on Sunday, May 11.

Phil Littlejohns (Peel and St John’s) captains the side that will also include Cronkbourne gaggle Alex Stokoe, Adam Killey, Luke Lacey, Max Stokoe, Sam Kebbell and Adam McAuley plus Crosby’s Carl Wagstaffe Danny Kniveton and Peel and St John’s trio Akkie Van Den Berg, Greg Hawke and Ollie Webster.

The manager is Colin Jones with Phil Unsworth as coach.

The battle for supremacy in this season’s Ascot Hotel Junior Cup intensifies this weekend when the competition’s quarter-finals take place.

Taking centre stage in arguably the tie of the round are DHSOB and St Mary’s who go head-to-head at Blackberry Lane. League form slightly favours the hosts with five wins and a draw out of their last six, compared to the Saints’ four victories, a draw and a defeat.

However, the visitors have fared better overall this season as they lie in second. The two meetings between the sides have ended in a win apiece, with DHSOB triumphing 4-2 on their own patch but St Mary’s romping to a 7-2 victory at the Bowl, so this one could easily go either way.

Another interesting game should unfold at Douglas Road where Combination One champions Peel host newly-crowned Combi Two winners Gymns. Since losing in last year’s Junior Cup final at the hands of Corinthians, the westerners have suffered just three defeats and have eased to yet another league title so, on paper at least, you would have to favour the hosts.

But Gymns are on a fine winning streak of their own and have already dispatched Combi One opponents in this competition in the shape of RYCOB and Laxey so should go into the game fairly confident of springing a surprise.

Also flying the flag for Combination Two are Douglas Athletic and Marown who host Corinthians and Rushen United respectively.

Athletic have been one of the most improved sides in Manx football over the past 12 months, with both the first and combi teams impressing on their way to respectable positions in both leagues.

They will, however, have their work cut out this weekend when they take on defending champions Corinthians.

The Whites may have been inconsistent in the league this season but have eased into the quarter-finals of the cup thanks to wins over Malew and Douglas Royal so they will be expected to complete a hat-trick of victories over lower league sides on Saturday.

Marown will also face an uphill task when they take on high-flying Rushen at the Memorial Playing Fields. Both have done well in their respective divisions but have fallen short in challenging for the league titles so will be desperate to make amends in this competition.

The Spaniards were made to work hard to reach this stage when they were pushed all the way by Ayre United so Marown will be hoping to go one better and sneak through.

Despite this, however, Rushen should have enough quality about them to book their place in the semi-finals.

Roaming charges for Manx telephone customers using their devices off the island are being cut.

Manx Telecom has announced a trial reduction in roaming data rates, from £1.50 per Mega Bit to 50p for people travelling in the UK, Ireland and the Channel Islands, which accounts for 80 per cent of roaming.

Sure is introducing a system which will enable its mobile users to choose a spending limit for data services.

As the customer reaches 80 per cent of their chosen limit they will receive a text message reminding them of their chosen limit and explaining that access to data will shortly be stopped, plus a further message once their data access is blocked. Both operators also have roaming packages (‘bolt-ons’) which can help further cut roaming costs.

Communications Commission chairman Juan Watterson MHK said: ‘The high cost of roaming while off-island has been of concern to consumers for some time, and the Communications Commission has been working with the island’s mobile phone companies to find ways of bringing it down and to reduce “Bill Shock”.

‘The commission welcomes these recent initiatives by Manx Telecom and Sure and will continue to work with operators to get better deals for consumers.’

He said that because the Isle of Man was not part of the European Union it could not take advantage of new EU rules to reduce prices for roaming in Europe.

However, the commission had been encouraging Manx Telecom and Sure to cut costs and to prevent bill shock for island residents travelling in the UK and Europe.

Mr Watterson added: ‘I welcome the fact that our operators are moving to lower prices and offer roaming packages which can help reduce roaming costs for Manx residents who want or need to use their phones when they are off-island. Reduced roaming rates and the ability to limit data charges will help both businesses and consumers.’

Taxpayers are being invited to appeal if they feel they have been charged unfairly for the new sewerage charge.

The charge, commonly known as the ‘toilet tax’, and which even Chief Minister Allan Bell has described as ‘unfair’, has caused more controversy in Peel after it was revealed that properties opposite each other, just metres apart, will be charged different amounts, £50 and £1.

The Westlands complex in Peel, which specialises in accommodation for elderly people, has self-contained flats on one side of the road and bungalows on the other.

Peel and Western District Housing Committee wrote to Manx Utilities asking for a reduction in the charge for the elderly residents of both.

Manx Utilities replied saying that the bungalows ‘did not meet the required criteria set by Manx Utilities for joint assessment and as such would attract an individual charge of £50 per property this year’.

However, just across the road, there are self-contained flats. Referring to these, the letter stated: ‘These properties did meet the criteria and as a result only one charge of £50 will be needed for Phase 1 (25 units) and one charge of £50 will be needed for Phases 2 and 3 (42 units).’

This means that pensioners living in the bungalows will have to pay the £50 charge whilst the 67 households in the self-contained flats will pay their charge collectively, which will be between £1 and £2 each.

Asked why there was such a difference a Manx Utilities spokesperson told iomtoday that because one set of residents lived in flats they got the reduced charge.

The spokesperson said: ‘Anyone can get in touch to be assessed. The charges are billed using the rate demands database. If anyone feels unfairly treated what they need to do is contact our customer support team to be individually assessed.

‘The team are there to help and we realise that this is a very sensitive topic.

‘While introducing the £50 per property sewage charge for 2014/15 Manx Utilities have been undertaking reviews via the Sewage Charge Appeals Process.

‘This process ensures that sheltered/retirement housing and charitable associations, who have multiple flats/apartments within a complex, are asssessed as a single entity; thereby assisting those more vulnerable within the community.’

When asked why the residents in the bungalows were not considered ‘vulnerable’, the spokesperson said: ‘We can’t discuss individual cases but what they need to do is call customer support and ask to be individually assessed.’

The £50 charge was brought in by the government on April 1 and is set to rise next year.

Its introduction prompted outrage in Peel especially, with more than 100 residents attending a requisition meeting.

Many feel that as Peel’s sewage is pumped out into the sea untreated that there should be no charge in the town.

To contact Manx Utilities customer support team call 687687, option 2 or email enquiries@manxutilities.im

Saturday, May 3

Ascot Hotel Junior Cup quarter-finals

2.30pm Peel v Gymns

2.30pm Douglas Athletic v Corinthians

2.30pm Marown v Rushen

2.30pm DHSOB v St Mary’s

Canada Life Premier League

2.30pm Castletown v Ramsey

JCK Division Two

2.30pm Gymns v Ronaldsway

2.30pm Malew v Douglas Royal

Canada Life Combination One

2.30pm St John’s v Ramsey

2.30pm Union Mills v St George’s

JCK Combination Two

2.30pm Foxdale v Ayre

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Sunday, May 4

Warehouse Fitness Women’s League

2.30pm DHSOB v Gymns

BCS Hospital Cup quarter-finals

5.30pm Union Mills v St John’s

5.30pm RYCOB v St Mary’s

5.30pm Peel v St George’s

5.30pm Ayre United v DHSOB

JCK Division Two

5.30pm Foxdale v Onchan

5.30pm Marown v Colby

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Monday, May 5

Kirby Estates Cowell Cup Group One

6.30pm St George’s v Onchan

6.30pm Union Mills v Rushen

Group Two

6.30pm Laxey v Ayre

6.30pm Ramsey v Corinthians

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Tuesday, May 6

Canada Life Combination One

6.30pm DHSOB v Castletown

JCK Combination Two

6.30pm Marown v Pulrose

6.30pm Malew v Douglas Athletic

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Wednesday, May 7

JCK Division Two

6.30pm Onchan v Ayre

6.30pm Foxdale v Marown

6.30pm Malew v Pulrose

This week’s Isle of Man Courier is online now.

You can read every page by clicking {http://edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk/launch.aspx?eid=beffdf8a-77a4-4495-95f5-7da4c1d009a7|here} now.

The One Show will be broadcast live from the Isle of Man at 7pm on Friday, May 16, featuring reports about the Isle of Man’s preparations for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.

BBC1’s show will be presented by Chris Evans and Alex Jones from a studio which will be set up at the Villa Marina.

More in Tuesday’s Isle of Man Examiner.

The government is now seeking planning permission for a £9.8m primary school in Douglas.

It is to be built on part of the former Noble’s Hospital site in Westmoreland Road and replace both Ballacloan Infants’ School on Demesne Road and Fairfield Junior School on Tynwald Street.

It will be called the Henry Bloom Noble Primary School.

More on this story in the Isle of Man Examiner on Tuesday.

TT fans have a chance to win a limited edition Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade SP worth £15,000 in a competition.

The prize is the limited-edition road version of the machine which Honda Racing team stars John McGuinness and Conor Cummins will be riding in the Superbike and Senior races at this year’s Isle of Man TT, and one of only 160 available in the UK.

The CBR Fireblade has built a loyal army of fans around the world over two decades of production – and in response to demand Honda has built this track-focused, yet fully road legal, version of the bike which has become synonymous with success in the World Super Bike Championship and the Isle of Man TT.

The Fireblade SP features Ohlins suspension, Brembo monobloc brakes and Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa SP trackday tyres. Advancements on this 2014 Fireblade include an improved riding position, higher screen, enhanced in frame flex dynamics beneath the swingarm pivot, and a modified cylinder head, giving more revs, power, and torque.

The competition is being held to celebrate Manx Telecom’s personal sponsorship of Honda Racing rider Conor Cummins in 2014, the third year in succession that the company has sponsored the ‘Ramsey Rocket’.

David Smith, Manx Telecom marketing director, said: ‘Conor is a great ambassador for us and the TT, and we’re very proud to support him again.

‘This year we also wanted to give fans a chance to win an extra special prize, and they don’t come much better than this limited edition Honda Fireblade SP which we’re very fortunate to have sourced through Isle of Man Honda.

‘It’s a dream bike for any TT fan, and visitors or residents just have to use the Manx Telecom mobile network to be in with a chance of winning. Making a call, sending a text, or using data on our network any time from May 6 to June 5, automatically enters the user into the prize draw.’

To celebrate the launch of Manx Telecom’s TT 2014 campaign, Conor Cummins will be meeting fans at Manx Telecom’s store in Strand Street, Douglas, on Saturday, May 10, from 10am to noon.

In addition to the Honda Fireblade SP competition, those using the Manx Telecom mobile network during this year’s TT will also have a chance to win one of 10 Sony Xperia Z1 compact smartphones (each one worth £449).

For full details about all the Manx Telecoms competitions being held during TT, go to www.manxtelecom.com/tt

[MT – prize]: Conor Cummins with the limited edition Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade SP which will be won by one lucky Manx Telecom customer during this year’s Isle of Man TT.

So far this year there have been five near misses and one collision involving the island’s historic railways.

Last year there were 18 near misses and three collisions.

PPolice are warning motorists to watch out for trams and trains.

Many crossing points on the roads are not fenced.

A police spokesman said; ‘Offenders could face significant fines and penalty points for failing to comply with the signals or being involved in a collision.’

A list of ‘horrifying problems only people from the Isle of Man will understand’ is getting a lot of hits after it appeared on social media sites.

The Buzzfeed site should not be viewed if you’re offended by swearing.

You can see it by {http://www.buzzfeed.com/robinedds/horrifying-problems-only-people-from-the-isle-of-man-will|clicking here}.

A rescue operation was launched off Port St Mary this afternoon after a diver became ill.

Port St Mary lifeboat was launched and the Sea King rescue helicopter from RAF Valley scrambled.

A Coastguard spokesman said a group of divers had been in the water around the Sugarloaf by the Chasms and the dive vessel raised the alarm when one of the team was unwell when they surfaced. He was given oxygen but was unresponsive.

The unconscious diver was brought back into Port St Mary harbour on the dive vessel where he was given treatment by paramedics.

A businessman who quit as chairman of a quango managing UK public funds after it emerged he had been declared bankrupt was engaged as a consultant with Manx firm IOMA.

Tony Caplin hit the headlines last month over revelations he had been appointed by UK premier David Cameron to chair the Public Works Loan Board despite being made bankrupt in 2012 with debts of more than £3m.

Mr Caplin subsequently resigned his chairmanship of the Treasury board which is responsible for multi-million pound loans for infrastructure projects.

Now details have emerged of the former Tory party chief operating officer’s business links to the Isle of Man.

It’s been widely reported that he was director of Manx-registered Kellmar Ltd that ceased trading in February 2012. And now the Manx Independent has learned he was taken on by island-based IOMA as a consultant in 2013.

A spokesman for the company said: ‘I can confirm that Mr Caplin was engaged by the company’s former CEO as an external consultant at the time he was on the board of the Treasury.

‘He was engaged for a short-term, one-off project which was not related to day-to-day client focused business and was paid for this project; he was not retained. It is company policy not to comment on the terms relating to any supplier or the nature of their engagement. We have no additional comment to make.’

UK newspaper reports suggest Kellmar may have fallen victim to a $2bn Venezuelan bond scam - this may be the reason for Mr Caplin’s bankruptcy.

A letter, purporting to come from the president of the Central Bank of Venezuela, stated the company was due to be the beneficiary of a $2bn (£1.2bn) Venezuelan bond - paying annual interest of 9.2 per cent. But no bond was ever transferred and the Central Bank’s president Nelson Merentes has denied he ever signed any such bonds over.

Mr Caplin was appointed to PWLB by the Labour government in 2003. But he was reappointed and made chairman by David Cameron 10 years later. Labour has accused the Tory leader of a serious error of judgement. Downing Street said Mr Caplin should have declared he was bankrupt.

An attempt to clean up Manx politics after the Douglas East by-election scandal was launched this week.

The public are now being offered the chance to have a say on the law governing elections to the House of Keys before it is considered by to MHKs.

The Representation of the People (Amendment) Bill includes proposals from an independent review following the East Douglas by-election in May 2010, some of which were incorporated in previous legislation, which ran out of time before the 2011 General Election.

The Bill requires candidates to declare publicly any campaign funding they receive, and to refuse donations made anonymously.

In 2010, television chef Kevin Woodford stood in the Douglas East by-election and was backed by a group described as the Manx Election Trust. The individuals behind it were never identified.

At the time Mr Woodford said he did not know the identities of its financial backers.

But it was reported to have paid for a glossy campaign, newspaper advertisements and a campaign office.

{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/woodford-s-election-trust-only-ever-had-100-in-it-1-5277154|However, last year the Manx Independent revealed that the fund only ever had £100 in it.}

On the eve of the election, police made arrests.

A trial for election fraud followed and {http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/election-trial-sentencing-buster-lewin-jailed-1-5236175|Mr Woodford’s campaign manager, Charles ‘Buster’ Lewin, was jailed} for conspiring dishonestly to secure proxy votes for Mr Woodford, conspiring to steal and conspiring to forge a document.

Mr Woodford’s election campaign did not succeed. He came third. {http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/chris-robertshaw-wins-douglas-east-by-election-1-1746945|Chris Robertshaw won} and Kate Beecroft, who was subsequently elected MHK for Douglas South, came second.

The proposed new Bill provides for the registration of political parties intending to support or nominate candidates, and for a limit on the amount that can be spent on a candidate’s campaign (a maximum of £2,000, plus 50p per registered elector, in the 12 months prior to an election).

The Bill replaces the term ‘absent voting’ with ‘advance voting’ to make it clearer that this option is open to any elector, regardless of their ability to attend a polling station on polling day.

It restricts the availability of ‘proxy’ voting to those who cannot vote in person or by advance vote.

In addition the Bill extends the criteria that disqualify persons from standing for election, and provides for manifestos and election notices to be displayed on the government website.

The Cabinet Office, which is led by the victor in the Douglas East election, Mr Robertshaw, this week launched an eight-week public consultation on a Bill to update election law, and ‘to promote the transparency and integrity of the election process’.

The consultation on the Representation of the People (Amendment) Bill 2014 runs until Friday, June 27.

The Council of Ministers says it would also welcome comments on detailed Representation of the People Regulations which would be made following Royal Assent for the Bill.

The consultation document and other documents can be found {http://tinyurl.com/ohle7dc|on the government’s website}.