Government needs to 'break the cycle' of child poverty on Island

• Committee report accepted by Tynwald in court's final sitting.
• Government needs to ‘be aware’ of the attainment gap facing those on free school meals versus their peers and be actively working towards closing it.
• That’s the core message of the first report from the Select Committee of Tynwald on Poverty into Child Poverty which has been received by Tynwald.

Today on the island

Overcast, 16°C (61°F), wind 8 mph

The local news that matters this morning

Here's all the news from our island from the past 24 hours, made easy to digest.

Manx Radio · Politics · 14:35 Government must follow its own rules • Tynwald Commissioner for Administration finds failings within DoI. • Tynwald has been told that government must ’follow its own rules’ after an Ombudsman report exposed serious failures in the way flood defence works were carried out on the river at Laxey. • Moving a debate on the report, at the last sitting of the current administration, Onchan MHK Julie Edge said a structure built beside Victoria Terrace was nominally about flood protection but, in reality, raised bigger questions about governance.

IoM Today · Politics · 13:05 Tynwald rejects revoking sub-judice rule on live planning applications • An MHK said the parliamentary rule had shut down a range of questioning. • The rule change which widened sub-judice restrictions to cover live planning applications was approved in July last year. • In the last sitting of Tynwald in the current parliament, Glenfaba and Peel MHK Kate Lord-Brennan tabled a motion calling for standing orders to be amended so questions about live planning applications and related policy, costs and decisions are not ruled out of order.

IoM Today · Politics · 11:08 Tynwald backs new joint board to oversee northern tip • Minister warns facility would close if new arrangements weren’t put in place. • Infrastructure Minister Tim Crookall warned the Balladoole tip would close unless the new arrangements were put in place. • The site faced closure after Bride Commissioners pulled out in protest at the size of fees it was being asked to pay.

IoM Today · Island News · 19:10 Manx Utilities unveil ultra-rapid EV charger at Sea Terminal • Manx Utilities has brought the Island's first ultra-rapid public EV charger into service at the Sea Terminal. • It can deliver up to 160kW and, in optimal conditions, add more than 300 miles of range in around 30 minutes. • The existing charger remains in place, bringing the site to four charging bays.

3FM · Politics · 14:36 Warning to election candidates over data protection rules • The Island's Information Commissioner's Office says if you're standing for election and thinking of uploading the electoral register to AI... don't do it! • The ICO has issued advice to would-be MHKs in the run-up to September’s general election. • It reminds those standing that they must comply with data protection law, which says people have a right to see the information you’re storing about them.

Manx Radio · Health · 06:19 Proportion on waiting lists likely higher than England • Manx Care aiming for 95% of patients to be seen within a year. • The health minister has conceded that government cannot yet put a reliable price on medical waiting lists. • Questioned in Tynwald, at the last sitting of the current administration, Claire Christian said there is no activity-based costing in place.

Manx Radio · Health · 06:17 Mental health campaigner to walk Raad-ny-Foillan in Crocs • 'BackpackBoz' to visit the Island in August. • A mental health campaigner is set to walk the Island’s coastal footpath next month all while sporting a pair of Crocs! • Callum Ball, known as BackpackBoz, will be walking from his home in Liverpool, onto the ferry, before taking on the Raad-ny-Foillan.

Tides · Douglas

Douglas tide times for today, shown local to the Isle of Man.

What's on: next 14 days

A curated quick-view of 6 public listings over the next 14 days. Tap any item for the source and full details.

Today · Villa Marina · villa gaiety. James

Today · Artreach Studios Ltd · allevents. Lazy Sloth Textiles 29th July (morning)

Today · Artreach Studios Ltd · allevents. Safari Game Drive On the Reserve: Mixed Media 29th July (pm)

Today · St Mary's On the Harbour · manx radio. Castletown Heritage Talk "finding the Gaskins"

Today · Glen Maye Chapel & Community Centre · peel online. Glen Maye Flower Festival 2026 Celebrating 150 Years of the Current Glen Maye Chapel

Today · Groudle Glen Railway, Onchan · Visit IoM & groudle glen…. Isle of Man Heritage Transport Festival

Resident pulse

One weekly reader question. This same poll runs all week; vote below. We publish the result each Monday, then start the next question.

Three Island Amazon finds

Island Amazon pick 1

Isle of Man map book

Map and guide searches for walkers and visitors.

View on Amazon UK →

Island Amazon pick 2

Manx language book

Books and learning materials for a bit of Gaelg.

View on Amazon UK →

Island Amazon pick 3

Celtic Folklore Welsh Manx book

Manx folklore and Celtic story collections.

View on Amazon UK →

From the Manx oral tradition

A small Manx fact

Onchan: Parks, headlands and old village lanes sit just beyond Douglas. It belongs to the map of everyday Mann, not just the postcard version.