It's around the corner, in November to be precise, but things are getting more interesting this year. Having followed the Manx Parliament's lowering of the age people can vote, I now see that it's raising a few eyebrows.

Broadly in agreement...

I do take issue with the phrase Geraint quoted "The Isle of Man has often been at the forefront of political and social change". Indeed homosexuality was illegal until 1992 and the death sentence wasn't abolished until 1993. However perhaps that's beside the point. I think lowering the voting age it a positive step; I for one support lowering the age one should be able to vote, I'm certainly in favour of the principle "no taxation without representation" which is the situation we have at the moment, as indeed a greater number of youngsters opt for work based training programmes at 16. Perhaps if this works out for the Isle of Man, the House of Commons can take a lead from the Tynwald.

Rather; I do believe that the public flogging of homosexuals having only recently been banned does perhaps dilute the claim. Nevertheless, let us not be clouded by an individual case for the House of Keys have demonstrated remarkable individuality in the past.

Hmmmmm. In my experience most 16 year olds are not really mature enough to vote. Many of them have only a limited understanding of government and even less understanding of what the parties stand for and how voting for a particular party can lead to a change of government and so on. Yes I know this applies to many 18 year olds as well - but those who do have an understanding of the issues, and do actually vote - tend to have a better perspctive on the issues than a 16 year old.

Or that's what I feel anyway, though I could be wrong...

BTW - Seeing as we're talking about the Isle of Man; what's there equivalent of the Conservative Party out there? Are there any centre-right parties out there?

No, the House of Keys is pretty much made up of non-partisans; 17 to be precise. The Manx Labour Party and the Alliance for Progressive Government are the only two parties that have won seats out of the 24 available. Edgar Quine, the leader of the Alliance for Progressive Government, did happen to be a staunch opponent of the Isle of Man's decision to decriminalise homosexual acts in 1991 when they were under pressure from HM's Government, but aside from this, his party could not really be defined as being 'conservative' of sorts. I would say all parties on the IoM have a tendency to be socialist.

Hmmmmm, the absence of any meaningful political parties is rather disappointing. IMO it reduces accountability in that a Party cannot be voted out of office if they prove to be a failure in office.

We've had similar problems back home in Torridge District Council. For years the council has been dominated by Independents who have proved in recent years to be totally useless when it comes to running the council. Due to the lack of strength of political parties on the council, it took the emergence of another group of Independents - The "Community Alliance" - in order for the original Independents to get booted out of office. However the “Community Alliance” have proved to be even worse than the original Independents. They factionalised and broke up and are now actually in bed with the original Independents anyway – simultaneously making the situation worse, sacking three Chief Executives of the council along the way, and dragging the council down with them.

On a somewhat related note, one of our new members is from the Isle of Man. Perhaps if he comes back in the future we can quiz him on the situation out there.

Okay, so following the pre-GE hype, it seems that many of the new eligible Manx voters have failed to register themselves on the electoral list; seen as a rebuke towards the legislation passed. How bizarre! But it does look like what's happening is really changing the way the politicians are pitching their manifestos and directing their communication. There are lots of 'Question Times' occuring, most aimed at the young, and the manifestos are apparently quite obviously aimed at the new younger voters. Is this what would happen over here? How scary, perhaps.

Why would it be scary?! I think dated political parties and the minds at their heart tend to cold-freeze the minute the young and their needs are mentioned. I can't believe this, why can't manifestos be targeted to younger voters aswell?! The lomas writes like a nutter again!