In this week’s Examiner we have a story about Mark O’Meara, the man who topped the poll in last month’s local elections in Port St Mary.
He’s only 24. And he found fame – if that’s the right word – a couple of years ago after daubing nationalist graffiti.
The spate of vandalism in 2010 recalled different countries and when British colonial rule ended. For example, ‘Zambia 1964’ was written on a wall in Castletown.
I thought the ‘campaign’ was good in that it was at least thought-provoking. Far better than a blunt ‘Brits Out’.
Mr O’Meara tells us about his start in political life.
The fact that he topped the poll in the village tells us that there is a lot of sympathy for those sorts of views. During the FSFO arson campaign in the eighties, I remember many pub conversations which were largely sympathetic to the perpetrators, if not the methods they used.
And we all know how one of those has done subsequently. Phil Gawne now sits on the Council of Ministers.
Anyway, the issue of local government reform is on the agenda because of the recent elections and the poor turnout of the electorate in some cases and of candidates in others. Onchan couldn’t find enough people to fill every commissioners’ seat, for example.
I don’t find it particularly surprising.
Sitting on a board of commissioners or Douglas Council is not, I imagine, much fun.
Many drone on about things of no particular interest.
I remember covering Castletown Commissioners once in the early 90s. At one stage, the ancient capital’s representatives began to discuss the colour of someone’s curtains in Janet’s Corner.
On another occasion, faced with two broadsheet page of south news to find in a quiet week, I went to Malew Commissioners’ meeting in desperation.
Although I sat there for about two hours, pen poised ready for any matter of any interest, none came. There wasn’t a single reportable word from the meeting.
The scriptwriters for the Vicar of Dibley could have got a lot of material at local authority meetings in the Isle of Man.
Having said that, I truly believe that almost all commissioners and councillors do it for good, selfless reasons. They want to be active members of their community.
They don’t get paid, except some expenses. They do a time-consuming job.
However, apart from public housing (which is subsidised by central government) and refuse collection, the authorities don’t actually have much of a purpose.
I was talking to someone in the corridors of power recently (not my dad). He reckoned anyone with an IQ over 80 would come to the conclusion that they should be abolished entirely.
Our refuse collection and housing could be centralised, run far more efficiently, and save us money.
The rest of their functions could end or be given over to central government.
If they were given more power, he said, they’d start to rival government and the island could spend millions in court as local authorities took on central government in legal disputes.
I’m not sure I agree. The local authorities do have some value (even if it does come at a price in pounds and pence for town halls, staff etc).
The commissioners give villages, towns and parishes a focus. They help to form communities.
And they are good political nurseries for those who go on to Tynwald. Many a commissioner and councillor has gone on to the Keys.
Perhaps Mr O’Meara will follow that route.
I don’t think any MHK is publicly backing abolition.
But most recognise that what we do have is ridiculous. We have 24 local authorities for a population of 85,000.
Douglas has one local authority for almost one third of the population. Bride has an authority for around 400 people.
The chief minister says it’s time for a change. But Miles Walker’s government said the same thing 20 years ago.
In fact, local authority reform has been on the agenda in one form or another for 80 years. Little has happened because the political will to do upset the status quo has not been strong enough.
Will anything actually change once the dust has settled after this election?
Probably not.