Politics
MHKs React to Proposed Boundary Changes
If approved by Tynwald, the boundaries of Glenfaba & Peel, Middle, Ramsey, and either Ayre & Michael or Garff would be altered for the next general election in 2026.
Ramsey MHK Lawrie Hooper has labelled plans to carve up his Ramsey constituency as ‘bizarre’ and ‘daft’.
If approved by Tynwald, the boundaries of Glenfaba & Peel, Middle, Ramsey, and either Ayre & Michael or Garff would be altered for the next general election in 2026.
One of two parts of Ramsey look set to be removed from the constituency.
One of the proposals would see homes on Ballure Road, Queen’s Valley, Ballure Grove, Stanley Mount East and West, Walpole Drive, Close and Road, as well as The Sycamores, moved into Garff. This would also result in the Queen’s Pier being moved into Garff.
Option two is for Thronhill Park, Marlborough Cresent, Marlborough Way, most of Clifton Drive, Gibbs Grove and Park, Romney Wynd, Westhill Village, Close Oard and Reayrt Ny Sleityn to move into Ayre and Michael.
Responding to the news, the Liberal Vannin leader tweeted: ‘Moving the Ramsey Queens Pier into Garff is a somewhat bizarre suggestion. And having parts of Ramsey not actually be in Ramsey any more is just plain daft. Solidarity with my Onchan colleagues who already tried to fight similar daftness the last time around.’
One of his Onchan colleagues, Rob Callister MHK, was critical of the review not changing the boundaries within the village which was cut up by the last review ahead of the 2011 general election which saw 12 constituencies of approximately equal population size being represented by two MHKs each.
The Howstrake area in Onchan was cut from the village’s constituency and placed into Garff, even though residents continued to be represented on a local level by Onchan District Commissioners.
Mr Callister said: ‘Unfortunately, no change in Onchan. This is despite the fact that the evidence shows that the full constituency (Parish & Village) has the correct number of registered voters to warrant three MHK’s.’
Garff MHK Daphne Caine also seemed surprised that the issue in Onchan hadn’t been addressed and said that there had been an ‘interesting reaction to this’.
She added that an initial response from some had been resents in Onchan and Ramsey asking to move into Garff’s local authority area in order to pay lower rates.
Interesting reaction to this.
Why no change to Onchan part of Garff constituency?
Initial response I’ve had is ???? And can @RamseyTownIOM residents and Garff @OnchanDC residents move fully into Garff and pay @GarffComms rates ?
Identity is important but so is representation https://t.co/2iuSXQmSXM
— Daphne Caine (@daffydowndilly) November 9, 2023
Moving the Ramsey Queens Pier into Garff is a somewhat bizarre suggestion
And having parts of Ramsey not actually be in Ramsey any more is just plain daft
Solidarity with my Onchan colleagues who already tried to fight similar daftness the last time around https://t.co/xbnLG7bAkn
— Lawrie Hooper MHK (@LawrieHooper) November 9, 2023
