Nationalists turn back on 'non-event'
Nationalist party Mec Vannin has pulled out of this year's Tynwald Day fair, branding it a 'national non-event'.
Its leaders believe the modern ceremony has 'no relevance to the Manx people'.
Though the group has no elected representatives in parliament, Mec Vannin has appeared at St John's with a protest stall for more than 40 years.
A statement on the group's Facebook page claims it was offered an obscure plot away from public view this year, which members felt did not justify Mec Vannin's long tradition of attendance.
Organisers denied it was a deliberate move, but reportedly refused to meet with the party's members.
Mec Vannin has criticised what it calls the 'desperate micro-management of the event', leading to a 'less vibrant' Tynwald Day with dwindling attendance figures.
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