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MLC launches furious online rant

Juan Turner takes on 'corrupt' government

A Tynwald member has launched a blistering attack on the state of Manx life.

MLC Juan Turner made the remarks in a post on social media last night.

The lengthy rant begins as a condemnation of 'stealth taxes', with accusations the Isle of Man Government is 'hanging [the public] out to dry'.

But Mr Turner does not stop there - also under fire is the work permit system, the civil service, costs of living, pensions, the health service, and what he calls a 'corruption of power' manifest in Manx life.

He goes onto say he 'would not recommend the Island to anyone', and claims the average family of four would be better off living in the north of England than here.

Adding to that, the businessman claims he has moved some of his enterprises overseas to avoid 'awkward' government regulations.

Mr Turner closes his rant by rallying against Manx independence - suggesting making the Island a Westminster constituency could secure our financial future.

See the full text of Juan Turner's post below:

 

If they want to attract people here then they need to address the constant punishing charges that Government are springing on people. They can't be trusted at present not to hang us out to dry. Look at the vehicle tax and 'toilet tax'. Started off at £50 and is now in the hundreds. Just one example of Stealth taxes hammering Manx families and business owners.

 

As it stands I would not recommend the Island and have actually moved some of my business to the UK directly because of IOM Gov policies and officials.

Even with the corporation tax differences, work permits have made it impossible for recruiting people I need as they won't move to an island without security. But then I've also not had to deal with awkward government officials putting barriers in the way - as I've said in Tynwald, dealing with Government Dept's is like swimming through treacle.

 

Then there's the huge costs of living here and it will be even worse when they force through rates based on capital values. That will be a killer for many people here now. The average family of 4 would be better off living in the NW of the UK. Even Cheshire, Shropshire and Derbyshire offers better property prices and lower costs of living.

 

Then there are the civil servants creating massive bureaucracy and politicians allowing it to happen. Business is drowning in the rules these people are creating. The new beneficial ownership rules are overly complicated - this should just be a simple exercise but as usual it's been made in to a bureaucratic process by people who love rules and regulations. The comparable UK system is simple. In fact the single most difficult thing about doing business in the Isle of Man is dealing with Government Departments. The best thing Government  can do for any business is keep away. I've been on the end of malicious harassment from government paid officials and when you complain, they just close ranks. Small place and big power breeds a corruption of power if your face doesn't fit.

 

All in all the bad Government policies have created this situation and a failing to see that the Isle of Man detaching itself further from the uk, I believe has brought more harm than good. Look at the huge pension black hole, the massive NHS debt they can't possibly support. If the IOM was a closer part of the UK it would be allocated funding from London as rural areas are supported and you know what the Government policy is for at least the 5 years. With devolution there's no reason why the IOM could not maintain control of key economic policies. But also we'd have an MP as 80,000 is a constituency size under the new proposals.

 

With nobody knowing what charges and new taxes are around the corner, especially with rates, I can't recommend here to anyone as it stands until

 

Government come clean on what they will hit us with next.

 

To grow the economy you need to ensure you put money in people's pockets, not steal it out to support a still over bloated civil service.

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