Back on the 22nd May (which feels an awfully long time ago now) we critiqued many of the original Manx Radio two-minutes to Tell Us segments with various candidates. At the time we said that its an election format that we like very much and so as the field has now widened considerably, and as the Manx Radio 2021 Election site is a bit of a dogs breakfast in terms of finding content, we thought we'd go back and do some of the ones we missed originally.
As there are so many candidates we'll be doing these over a few days to stop the content getting too long.
The original two-minutes to Tell Us write-ups from May are here:
Graham Cregeen
Where do we start on this one? Mr Cregeen comes across as literally demented in this clip with his eyes strangely fixed on a focal point about two-feet above his head like he's being hypnotised by Little Britain's Kenny Craig from behind the camera all the way through - look into my eyes not around the eyes! He then launches into a weird two-minute monologue which starts off thanking all key workers for their work over the pandemic well as thanking the great Manx public for doing what they were told. That's so 2020 but there's easy votes still to be had milking Covid - although we doubt the seventy or so members of the great Manx public Mr Cregeen jailed as Home Affairs Minister really need to hear any of it again. At the end of his monologue he says that the next government needs people who aren't afraid to do the real job - so again we might suggest that rather counts you out Graham.
Mr Peter Willers
Here-I-am-reading-from-a-script-that-Peter-Karran-gave-me-a-few-minutes-ago .. but I'm such a sincere politician that I'm going to use this two-minutes to not try to portray what a sincere politician I am in favour of reading notes off this piece of paper like a confused old man.
Mr Damian Ciappelli
Tromode's Petrocelli clearly likes to focus on his legal background and attempts to use this short introduction to portray himself in a professional way. Effectively he pulls off successfully what Mr Willers probably should have done - which is to come across as professional legal practitioner who is very concerned about the mess the Isle of Man finds itself in. Mr Ciappelli is another candidate who wants to reduce the size of government and red tape - and who can argue with that!
Amanda Walker
We like Amanda Walker very much and she comes across well here as a no nonsense candidate for Douglas East - and she hates social media. No she really, really, hates social media. Because she's articulate and intelligent apparently and Facebook is no platform for political debate. You can tell she's a school teacher and she's probably the feisty type who would punch you out after a few too many gins if you aren't behaving yourself. But she sounds like she would be a real breath of fresh air for Douglas East though - so all those who don't vote for her should report to the Headmasters Office on the 24th September!
Andrew Smith
Another grey old man reads uncomfortably from another hidden piece of paper. Mr Smith seems to have had an awful lot of jobs over the years as he gleefully reels his CV off for the benefit of any voters watching. In fact the only job he doesn't seem to have had over such a diverse career is an Astronaut - although he's clearly shooting for the moon now! He rescued Laxey Fair you know and he's competent, conscientious and caring - what is it with Garff and candidates who have a deep seated love of alliteration?
Dr Sos Boussougou
Serial unsuccessful fund raiser Dr Sos (not The Cat in the Hat author Dr Seuss as it may initially sound to the untrained ear) makes just three brief points. For his last point he seems to have moved away from demanding that China pays for the IOM financial impact of the pandemic to just demanding that a pandemic enquiry is set up so that the things can be reviewed with hindsight. No doubt if he doesn't get in he's already working on his next crowdfunding campaign for something like making a statue of his nephew out of Manx cheese.
Alf Cannan
Stand by your beds! But a very statesman like address none the less from a man who is likely to be our next Chief Minister. He gave you all £130 million over the pandemic just remember that - and not the extra billion we've now got to find to pay public sector pensions or the £50 million plus the Liverpool ferry terminal is likely going to cost!
Trevor Cowin
What is it with Peel MHK candidates and suntans? Mr Cowin has certainly done a Ray Harmer on the tanning front which leaves us to ask is every Peel basement secretly equipped with a solarium? As every time we go there its just bleak. He says he is known as the man who writes angry letters to the papers, and all his Manx relatives are Manx (well there's a co-incidence) which makes him a true Manxman! He was a civil servant for forty years and now does free consultancy work (ie, on his massive civil service pension) in order to help other people. His number-one priority is to deal with all the number-two's in Peel Bay.
Leo Cussons
We like the eco Iggy Pop doppelganger that is Leo Cussons. He wants a property owning democracy and opportunities that everyone can afford. And who are we to disagree. We really do like the Greens and given that many now believe that Peel harbour is literally a PCB riddled toxic sewer there's probably no better constituency to be pushing green values in at the moment.
Madeleine Westall
Like a rather passive aggressive Jurby scarecrow that's been hastily hammered up in order to protect the best turnips Ms Westall claims that she is standing as MHK in order to stand up for the rural communities of the north. While looking down at her notes and away from the camera she says that one of her key skills is that she can communicate very well with people. We're not that convinced though. Ms Westall focuses on the housing crisis and poor GP services as well as environmental and green energy concerns.
All links above from Manx Radio:
