Janineshimmin4Ramsey.im

Hi my name is Janine Shimmin, I'm "as Manx as the hills" and I am passionate about our Island, its heritage and our people.

I am standing to become a representative for the constituency of Ramsey in the up-and-coming elections on 24th September 2026. Like most of you, I am frustrated with the government's direction of travel.

I am concerned for the viability of our future as a Crown dependency and the diminishing respect for our culture. I have over 30 years' experience in Management Accounting and I am a registered qualified tour guide for The Isle of Man - I believe this gives me a uniquely balanced position of understanding the Islands history, culture and its finances.

I want to be part of a Government that promotes first and foremost the people of the Isle of Man and its home-grown businesses. The changes I want to make will benefit the people of Ramsey as much as it will the people across the Island and so this is my first step.

During the 2026 to 2027 financial period, the Isle of Man government has plans to draw £126 Million from reserves to balance its spending, this is not sustainable.

Right now, the Isle of Man Government is inefficient, bloated, and financially undisciplined. Money is being poured into systems that don’t deliver, while the basic needs of ordinary people — shelter, food, warmth, security, meaningful employment — are becoming harder to achieve.

My vision sets out clear, practical and financially grounded measures to fix that.

I understand that I will not achieve this alone but I believe in this election, there are a number of candidates across the Island who have the will to make changes for the people.

Should I be successful in gaining your vote and become an MHK for Ramsey, the below policies are what I want to address first.

Government - Cut waste, build skills, protect residents and fund what matters

Problem

The Isle of Man Government employs approximately 24% of employed people on the Island

The Isle of Man Government spends approximately 38.5% of its Income on Civil service payroll not including contractors and Consultants

The Government employs contractors, work permit holders and other employees through exemption schemes

Contractors and Consultants can cost upto 40% more to engage/employ

Consultants seem to be brought in to do the job the senior civil servant should be able to do

Policy direction

We need to slim it down and Skill it up

Stop providing welcome packages to non residents. Instead provide training support and opportunities to residents

Support local people in further education/university to fulfil higher roles

Stop employing Contractors and consultants for departmental work

Streamline the numbers employed

Employ technology to further reduce numbers employed

Introduce a welcome home package to those residents educated and trained on Island

Funding:

Costs savings throughout Government

Food Security - Local is best

Problem

The Island is vulnerable to food shortages as more than 94% of food is imported, this is further exacerbated by cancelled sailings and any disruption in supplies from further afield
The Government has failed local food producers for years
Economies of scale, mean local Farmers can never compete with international bulk importers of produce
Government has prioritised International Supermarkets, banks and E- Commerce over the most basic of necessities- Local food
Approximately 10 years ago, it was understood that every £1 spent locally would be worth 5 times more to our GDP if spent on Island
The Isle of Man Government promotes new industries by offering, grants and Loans that local food producers do not have access to

Policy Direction

Mandate Government operated facilities to purchase as much Locally produced food as possible
Giving local producers security of market sales
Manx food standards set locally
Levies on large external chains importing foods that are competing with local supply
The government needs to take responsibility for documentation that can affect the value or stability of Island exports
Apprenticeships for food producers
Our Government needs to not only give access to Loans and grants for local producers but ensure these schemes are taken up through awareness and assistance from department

Funding Method

Levies on external importers of competing food produce
Increased local economic circulation

Other benefits of local production is Animal welfare, reduced Carbon emissions and the incremental benefit to GDP

Energy Security- Power in your hands

Problems

High risk due to dependency on external supply
Electricity costs 20–30% higher than UK
Vulnerability to future price fluctuations
Less than 5% renewable generation

Policy Direction

Consider localised energy solutions:
1. Micro‑hydro
2. Solar tiles & PV windows
Micro‑wind
Remove or reduce third party reliance on fuel/energy by Island generated renewable energy
Remove third party control of supply and the risks of exposure to pricing shocks through Isle of Man Government Control
Renewable Research & Development partnerships
Renewable energy apprenticeships/university support

Funding

Long‑term energy savings
New Skills base

Housing- Homes for residents

Problem

Affordability of housing
Not enough houses/homes
Multi‑home ownership by resident/non-resident individuals and companies, stagnating the market and inflating property values
Corporate ownership of long‑term vacant properties/sites also stagnates the housing market
Developers do not have a minimum standard of build, but social housing does
Developers are not required to orientate houses for energy efficiencies
First time buyers are offered houses that are smaller or built to a lesser standard than social housing

Policy Direction

Restrict property purchases by non resident individuals and non resident beneficiaries of Companies and Trusts
Discourage multiple houses being purchases for investment through taxation
Mandatory build size, quality and energy efficiency
Implement Vacancy Tax
Create a housing strategy that will flow

Funding Method

A reduction of ownership due to above policies should free up properties to the market
Vacancy taxes
Higher commercial rates for non‑resident corporate ownership

Manx Care - Costs more, delivers less

Problems

High spending, poor outcomes
Long waiting lists
Non‑residents using services
Ageing population
Manx Care is an arms length business so limited information available

Policy Direction

Cross reference roles of DHSS to ensure no duplication of duties/costs
Request Manx Care to provide as much detailed information as possible
If we cannot get the information we should disband Manx Care so we can have access to costs

Increase the Tax cap and re assess it

Legalising Cannabis - Saving costs, creating revenues

Recreational use of Cannabis is currently illegal on the Isle of Man. Enforcement involves policing, court proceedings, custodial sentences and probation and or reintegration and social costs. At the same time several countries and regions have moved towards regulated cannabis markets. Cannabis is also now being recognised to have many medicinal properties.

Decriminalising Cannabis could save prosecution costs of approximately £2 Million

Decriminalising Cannabis also brings potential new revenue streams:

New Tax revenues approx £4.5 Million.

Tourism uplift £2.6 Million

Total Fiscal impact a positive £9.1 Million

Tourism - Built our Island and can do it again

In 1913 The Isle of Man was at its peak of tourism, more than 600,000 visitors came to the Island in one season - the local population was only around 50,000. The tourism trade essentially built the Isle of Man, its infrastructure, leisure facilities, parks, glens and railways. I believe we can do this again.

A previous MHK once referred to the Island becoming a toy town, but I have taken visitors around this Island and it is precisely because we are not like the surrounding Islands, that people come here, and return.

The Island today has many adventurous outdoor experiences to offer but we should not underestimate the attraction of our Castles, Myths and Legends.

Problem

Our heritage sites need investment
Our transport links need investment
The Isle of Man Government does not give the Tourism Industry on the Island enough respect or financial support
Parks glens and Heritage sites are in disrepair
Entry routes and town centres are of poor appearance
Planning continues to approve builds that are not appropriate.

Policy Direction

Invest in Heritage sites
Improve appearance of entry routes to towns
Consider adaptability of heritage transport and expansion
Explore regulated cannabis tourism
Continue to promote Manx culture, food, landscape
Support Local Charities and Trusts in maintaining or extending restored heritage sites and transport
Embrace the uniqueness of the island as the visitors do
Introduce a minimal Entry Tax to the Island payable by all not just Tourists
Give free entry to residents one day a month to Heritage sites to ensure engagement with our families and children
Tourists come, they spend in our economy and they go. Tourists do not need Doctors, Dentists, Housing or any of the other Services that are already struggling to serve the Island people

Funding

Tourism revenue
Cannabis tourism
Public and private partnerships

Pensions and NI fund

Currently late life retirees looking for a bolt hole can retire to the Isle of Man and make a top up payment to enable them to be entitled to a Manx state pension as well as their UK pension. This is draining the NI fund.

Policy direction

Remove the Pensions top up scheme - keep The Isle of Man NI fund for people who have lived and worked and contributed for the full qualifying years. The UK did this in 2025.

Consider increasing the qualifying years for pension allowance to 40

Extend the NI solvency horizon

Funding

This could reduce payments by between £9 and £13 Million a year

This ruling could also deter later life immigration to the Isle of Man, in turn more housing may become available with less pressure on the Health Service, and the demographics of the Island could change.

The Isle of Man is a low tax jurisdiction

Problem

The Tax Cap system enables High Net Worth individuals to make payment of Tax up to £220,000.

There are people on this Island who earn Multi Millions of pounds each year and benefit from this reduced Tax payment , meaning the middle to high earnings group will be paying a higher % of their earnings to The Isle of Man Government in Tax

Policy direction

Increase the Tax cap to £250,000

Investigate what additional financial benefit comes to The Isle of Man from persons employed through businesses created by the individuals applying for the Tax cap status.

This will help us understand the economic cost to value

Currently the Island is dependent on the funds we receive from

Funding

This could raise more than 1.6 Million the funds could then be injected into any of the areas identified above.

Border Control and Immigration

I am absolutely in favour of stronger border controls for the Island.

Tynwald considered passport control back in 2010, I supported it then and I still do.

Immigration to a small Island population has a significant impact and we need to ensure that there are protections put in place to retain our culture and our heritage. I would welcome an alignment across departments to determine when a person is considered a resident.

The Isle of Man has always had immigration, this is part of our make up.

The 2021 Census demonstrates that only 41,658 49.6% of residents are Manx born.

Details of the country of birth for the remaining population are as follows:

32,153 people 38.3% United Kingdom

1,630 people, 1.94% Ireland

1,218 people, 1.45% South Africa

With the remaining 7,410 people coming from another 18 Countries

https://www.gov.im/media/1375604/2021-01-27-census-report-part-i-final-2.pdf

I do not believe the Isle of Man has the infrastructure to increase the population of the Island to 100,000.

Once the cost of Government is reduced and the Island is able to provide all the services the people of the Island deserve, this could be reviewed.

What about Ramsey?

Since the Norse rulers moved the seat of power from Peel around 1200ce to Castletown and then again on to Douglas in 1860, Ramsey has always been a little isolated. This is partially due to the Geography of the Island with sailing to Douglas being a much quicker option prior to the mountain road being built. It seems that old habits die hard and still today the centre of commerce is Douglas.

Today approximately 47% of Ramsey's population commute to Douglas for work. With the Government aims around net zero, and people wanting a better work life balance this does not seem to align with the current situation.

Douglas is limited on space, it is congested and driving to work can take at least one hour a day from your leisure time. Ramsey has space with rents and rates being less than a similar property in the Douglas area.

Ramsey already has a great mix of independent shops and food outlets and attracts people from all around the Island because of their individuality.

I believe we have an opportunity to encourage new or established businesses to come to Ramsey and increase commercial activity.

I would also like to work with Local business, charitable trusts, government departments and Ramsey Town Commissioners to increase tourism in the area, through support discussion and funding.

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