Whatever the Isle of Man decides to do about its links with the United Kingdom, in the wake of the 'VAT bombshell', strong leadership is needed from the government.

That's the view of prominent Manx nationalist Bernard Moffatt, who claims he isn't seeing it at the moment.

Mr Moffatt, the Celtic League's director of information, has been an outspoken critic of the United Kingdom government over the years.

But he believes what's happened this week is purely the action of a nation trying to look after its own interests, rather than a concerted attack on the Island: