I have an Engineering degree from Cambridge University and an MBA from the Open University. I started work as an engineering consultant in London and have then been employed in the Isle of Man’s finance and technology sectors for 25 years. My roles have included establishing offices worldwide and introducing systems and processes that helped companies grow and operate more efficiently.

I was a Peel Commissioner from 2009 to 2015, returning in 2023 and chairing five years overall. It has been a privilege to serve Peel and help deliver regeneration projects such as Marine Parade, better Commissioners’ housing, more recycling points, events including the Soapbox Derby, beach raking, free library membership and free Wi-Fi.

I represented the constituency as MHK from September 2015 (in a by-election) until 2021, serving first as Minister for Infrastructure and then as Minister for Policy and Reform in the Cabinet Office. I have also held responsibilities for Children and Families in the Department of Health and Social Care and chaired the Isle of Man Post Office and Public Services Commission.

Community life matters greatly to me. I have served on the Peel Heritage Trust committee for 15 years, including four years as chair. I am now treasurer of Friends of The Centenary Centre and a founder of Western Men in Sheds. I am also a member of Peel Golf Club and support the Manx Wildlife Trust as well as Manx National Heritage. I enjoy running and cycling, having completed four charity marathons, a charity ride from Land’s End to John o’ Groats. I play the saxophone and have previously performed with the Manx Saxophone Ensemble. I’ve entered the Parish Walk many times, reaching Peel on several occasions and completing the full route twice. I am married to Adele, and our son, Nathan, is completing a PhD at Cambridge University after studying at QEII.

I believe in the importance of listening, I’m approachable, caring, and reliable. I work constructively with others, even when we disagree, staying focused on best outcomes. My experience can help guide new members, and I will work closely with local Commissioners to address both local and national priorities.

I believe public service is about doing the difficult work, making things happen, not just talking about it or even just criticising it. In previous years I have supported and helped progress major projects and community causes that mattered to Peel, Glenfaba, and the wider island. 

Some of these included:

• Working with numerous people and organisations for many years both as a commissioner and MHK to progress Peel’s sewage treatment solution.
• Delivering the heritage trail scheme from Peel to Douglas.
• Increasing the number of nursery places.
• Dredging Peel harbour.
• Supporting the Wellbeing Centre and community facilities.
• Backing major infrastructure renewal, including complex projects that improved public safety and maintained critical services, such as Douglas Promenade, Peel Bridge and Pulrose Bridge
• Supporting the creation of the Manx Credit Union, giving people access to lower interest loans.
• Bringing the Steam Packet into public ownership. 
• Supporting strategic transport assets, including reducing waiting times at the airport, Steam Packet investment and securing the Liverpool ferry route for future generations.
• As Policy & Reform Minister, I was responsible for delivering legislation, a key role of an MHK. During 15 months in office, 43 bills received royal assent, pushing through vital legislation such as tackling domestic abuse and creating a gas regulator to help reduce bills. This can be compared to the present government, which has averaged 6 bills a year.  
• Delivering the East Area Plan, which has energised development in Douglas.
• Helping obtain funding, planning, and design for the new East Quay development in Peel.
• Introducing a 5-year fixed tenancy to free up housing for those who need it.
• Working within department budgets, and as a commissioner to keep rate increases low.
• Steered the Island through Covid as part of the Council of Ministers

Glenfaba & Peel has enormous potential. I will seek further funding to improve Michael Street, the harbour area, and other key parts of the town, while aiming to ensure that improvements respect Peel’s historic character and community identity. If elected, I will:

• Working with all parties to complete Peel’s sewage treatment works and enhance the beach area and facilities.
• Support conservation grants for buildings, including those above shops and for traditional shopfront refurbishment. This should be paid for by implementing the Community Infrastructure Levy on new builds.
• Develop an active Chamber of Commerce with access to DfE to give local businesses a stronger collective voice.
• Explore an online tourist trail, more public art, better signage, and creative events. 
• Put pressure on the government to dredge the harbour and marina to secure their long-term future. 
• Support a boutique hotel and apartments for East Quay with parking provision. 
• Progress the long-awaited STEM block for QEII.
• Explore parking solutions in Peel.
• Upgrade St Johns sewage plant.
• Improve the heritage sites such as Niarbyl and the glens across Glenfaba.

Health must be seen as a whole: prevention, early intervention, access to local care, and services designed around patients rather than bureaucracy. Glenfaba and Peel residents need to be able to access appointments, treatment, and follow-up care when required.

• Review structures that have failed to control costs and demand greater accountability for health spending.
• Consider reabsorbing Manx Care into the health department, reducing duplication and providing simpler structures with more transparency.
• Press for better surgery capacity and better primary care access in the West.
• Support an upgraded, joined-up health IT system enabling hospitals and local surgeries to access records safely and efficiently. Include the use of the NHS App. 
• Attract and keep more doctors, nurses, teachers, and key workers through practical incentives and career pathways.
• Explore more ways to attract consultants to the island by allowing them to offer private care at Nobles as well as NHS work. 
• Promote preventative care, such as weight loss drugs and better use of technology such as teleconferencing.
• We need better data, including the measurement of performance and outcomes. Without effective measurement, it is not possible to manage and improve standards.

We need a long-term solution for the care of our elderly. Better use of technology could mean people stay in their homes for longer. We are overdue an insurance scheme that protects families from the excessive burden and cost of nursing care and an approach that reduces the demand for costly hospital beds.

Local community hubs with respite care would reduce the demand on the hospital.

We need to explore more effective support and care for families of children and adults with learning difficulties. 

The vital service provided by Hospice should be promoted; one way might be for the government to match donations. 

The visit later this year of MoneyVal and its report will be crucial for the island, particularly for the finance sector. We need to make every effort to ensure a positive outcome.

AI will significantly impact employment. We need to review how to navigate these changes such as:

• Supporting small and medium businesses through grants for training and investment.
• Leveraging our current strengths in data centres to attract technology businesses to the island.

We need to strengthen support for our economy:

• Support our farmers and local food producers, so we continue to produce the food we need instead of relying on imports.
• Prioritise Manx produce in Government Procurement.
• Set clear targets to increase food production and link support to production.
• Align legislation and regulation with the UK, to promote our food exports.
• Defend and invest in our fishing industry.
• Use our competition laws to defend local businesses.
• Reduce the burden of costs and administration for small businesses.

To grow our economy, the Island needs better connectivity, reliable transport, and a broader tourism appeal. Glenfaba & Peel has so much to offer as a destination for residents and visitors alike. 

• Maximise the capacity of the Manxman by offering lower fares for visitors and residents where there is availability.
• Invest in a dredger for Douglas harbour so that the Manxman can berth without hindrance.
• Invest in our airport, for example, fill any gaps in air traffic control cover
• Review licensing models for the airport to improve quality
• Improve bus connectivity to make it easier for people to travel to, from, and around the constituency and the island, including a link between Peel & UCM.
• Promote Peel harbour, the castle, museums such as the Leece and Knockaloe Visitor Centre, beaches, water sports, walking routes, events, and independent businesses. 
• Expand the work with coach companies, cruise ships, visitor groups, and tourism bodies 
• Find ways to support more year-round tourism 
• Improve and promote our footpaths and green lanes as well as maintain quality road surfaces, eradicating potholes as far as possible 
• Establish a dedicated tourist board with an MHK as chair

Young people should be able to build a future on the Isle of Man. That means valuing practical skills as well as academic success, opening doors to trades and professions, and giving families confidence that their children can prosper here.

• Expand apprenticeships and practical training routes within schools and UCM.
• Provide grants or incentives for companies to train young apprentices.
• Consider a bond or return-to-Island scheme to encourage graduates in key professions such as nursing, teaching, and medicine to come home and serve the community.
• Strengthen our Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths contribution by, for example, building the new STEM block at QE2
• Support more activities and facilities for young people across Glenfaba and Peel. Explore ways to minimise the negative impact that social media can have on mental health.
• Support a break from paying National Insurance if a returning student. 
• Adopt a more strategic approach to training & qualifications suitable for our island and funding for training being allocated to where we want to be technologically and what skills we should invest in.

The cost of living has put a significant burden on many. We should aim to support those with low incomes to meet any price surges in energy and heating costs.

Debt often causes untold misery, which is why I championed the Manx Credit Union. We also need to update our 200-year-old insolvency laws, which trap people in debt. These laws should be changed to help people manage debt and eventually become debt-free.

I support housing that is needed, affordable, well planned, and matched by the infrastructure, services, roads, schools, and health provision required to make it work. Development must serve the community, not overwhelm it.

• The government should provide more social housing where it meets genuine local need, such as commissioners’ housing in Cowley Terrace. Implement essential repairs and maintenance to existing estates, following successful trials in Reayrt Aalin.
• Target and improve Mortgage Interest Relief for first-time buyers.
• Oppose poorly planned additional housing zones where infrastructure cannot cope.
• New policies to address vacant housing, such as higher rates.

Government consists of too many silos and insufficient working together. There needs to be more agreement and shared goals for the good of the Island.

Having seen and engaged with how government operates, it is clear there are too many hurdles, often leading to the long “no”. Business has been lost to the island because we have lost our flexibility to innovate and push things forward. MHKs need to be active promoters of solutions and deliver change.

There needs to be much better data sharing between departments, which will need adequate Tynwald regulation. Ministers should be given cross-departmental responsibilities to overcome silo mentality. 

The remuneration of MHKs needs to be restructured, with the emphasis on performance and delivery. 

We should allow local communities to have more say over local matters. 

For example, a regeneration fund could be put in the hands of the local community rather than dictated centrally.

One of our core strengths is our low crime level and a sense of safety. We should build on this by supporting well-funded, community-based policing that remains visible, trusted, and responsive. We must also take firm action against the continuing threat of illegal drugs.

People are already used to showing identification for flights, and I would support a similar approach for sailings to combat crime and protect the Island’s safety. I support the introduction of a new border agency.

The present government has overspent by £500 million and used the interest from reserves to balance the books. This is unsustainable and risks our future. 

We have allowed financial rigour to be lost so departments can consistently overspend without adequate scrutiny or accountability.

We need to invest in core strategic analysis to identify bottlenecks and duplication. There are many areas where we could simplify.

We should bring back the full tax allowance for charities to encourage people to give more to charity.

We need to reconsider our taxation rates where our combined marginal tax/NI rate for middle earners is 4% higher than in the UK.

We want to see a healthy, sustainable Island and protect what makes it unique. We should move towards energy independence. Solar panels on government buildings should be added automatically, as was the case at the Peel campsite. 

• Consider renewable energy carefully, including the benefits, costs, landscape impact, and security of supply.
• Encourage electric vehicles, improved recycling, and wildflower areas
• Make the best use of the Isle of Man’s biosphere status as a strength, not just a label.

My vision is for healthy, prosperous people living in harmony with the Island’s environment and biosphere: free, strong, and safe – a beacon to other countries. We should look forward, not backwards, and maximise the best in everyone for the common good.

• A strong diverse economy 
• Health services that are patient-centred and accountable.
• Families able to prosper, with varied opportunities for young people to remain on the Island.
• Better use of our own resources and less unnecessary dependence on imports.
• Financial responsibility and an end to avoidable waste.
• Freedom of opportunity, open debate, and respect for different views.
• Strong transport links so it is easier to travel to and from the Island.

This election is about the nation we want to build over the next five years. I am standing to help deliver a healthier, more sustainable, connected, financially responsible Isle of Man and to make sure Glenfaba and Peel has a strong, practical and caring voice.

Working together for a brighter future