03/07/2006
Geoffrey Boot MHK candidate for Glenfaba has now concluded
his “Your Views Count Campaign”. In
what is believed to be a first for the
Geoffrey is surprised and pleased by the response:
nearly 21% of the electorate have participated. In
statistical terms this is a valid sample of public opinion and designed to back
up his view of Politics, that those elected should really represent and do what
the electorate want them to, rather than get elected and tell people what they
should be doing.
The
survey threw up some interesting comments. One
individual wanted the whole island DNA tested, another thought a voluntary
euthanasia bill might be appropriate for MHKs. On
a more serious note, Government mismanagement and a lack of elected individuals
taking responsibility for their actions proved to be high on the list of gripes.
More
generally!
Over 70% appear to be in favour of
more vigorous immigration control and ID cards.
There is a general feeling in
terms of law and order that things were getting worse rather than better and
many want to see more bobbies on the beat and perhaps zero tolerance policing.
70% are in favour of recycling and
more renewable energy, but 95% were against charging for rubbish based on the
amount people produce and felt this would lead to more fly tipping.
Over 80% were in favour of more
NHS dentists, but most were satisfied with local doctors and also our on-island
hospital provision.
Surprisingly only 20% were in
favour of our own TV Channel, but 60% wanted to scrap the BBC licence fee and
felt we were not getting value for money in terms of Manx coverage.
As more and more people want
access to the Internet, 70% were in favour of more competition and cheaper
Broadband provision.
80% felt that taxation was about
right and didn’t want to see anymore, with the comment “the Government could
do a lot more to spend our money more prudently”.
Foreign aid proved to be a very
low priority with only 1% in favour of it increasing, whilst there was
considerable concern at the lack of support for our farmers and the possible
consequences to the landscape.
Provision of affordable housing
for both first time buyers and people on low incomes concerned 65% of people.
Planning issues also featured high
on people’s discontent barometer, with over 70% citing planning as an issue
over which they would like to have more say.
42% felt that island-wide
referendums on key legislation would be good news, whilst a number expressed
concern over rampant
Geoffrey, having identified what he believes are the key issues for the majority of the Glenfaba constituency, will now use this as a basis for his manifesto for the forthcoming election and renewed his commitment to listening to the electorate.
e-mail : geoffreyboot@supanet.com