Colourful uniforms and ancient traditions on display at Tynwald Day
Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
25 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Loose Women's Charlene White interrupts Kelly Brook as TV debate gets awkward
During a debate on the news that the voting age has been lowered, Loose Women anchor Charlene White was called out by viewers for interrupting Kelly Brook. Charlene White was seen interrupting Kelly Brook during a fiery political debate on today's episode of ITV's Loose Women. The newsreader was in her usual slot as the programme's anchor on Thursday's edition of the ITV lunchtime chat show when she and her co-stars discussed the news that 16 and 17-year-olds will now be able to vote. When Kelly's turn came to speak, she tried to argue that there is "more information" now than the days when perhaps children would have simply copied their parents, even though there is "a lot of misinformation" around as well. The model tried to argue that a person's voting stance can change throughout their life, depending upon their own experiences. She suggested that some people may be more affected by the care system, for example, or may be running a business when they reach adulthood, so the way they vote could be different to how they would have done as a teenager. Charlene continually shouted "Kel, Kel, Kel, so what I'm saying is," over the top of her. Ultimately Charlene also argued that voting needs may change as one gets older, and Kelly concurred, but then quickly added: "So that's why 18-year-olds shouldn't be voting." Kelly then tried to ask if the move was "so important" why it hasn't come about before, but again, Charlene interrupted her again to bring fellow panellist Linda Robson into the conversation. The Birds of a Feather actress simply noted that she had "never been interested" in politics but would encourage her grandchildren to think differently, whilst Nadia Sawalha claimed that the move may help the country "inch towards a democracy" as time goes on. But Charlene's interruption of Kelly did not go unnoticed, and viewers took to social media to vent their frustration. One wrote: "its all kicking off on #loosewomen i'm sure all its 5 viewers are enjoying kelly brook's rant", and another championed Kelly as they wrote: "Go on kelly brook let her finish Charlene". Another viewer complained that Charlene had been "too loud" in the moment and ordered her to "shut up", but another claimed that Kelly had been "way out of her depth" with the comments. Under existing rules 16 and 17-year-olds are already able to cast a ballot in both local and devolved and local elections in Scotland and Wales - but not in England and Northern Ireland. The age of voting at a general election currently stands at 18 for all four corners of the UK. It is among a string of changes that also includes closing loopholes on foreign donations to political parties through shell companies. There will be more severe fines of up to £500,000 for those who breach the rules. UK-issued bank cards will also become an acceptable form of ID at polling stations. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government also said "far too many people are being deterred from voting" due to controversial Voter ID rules. Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner said: "For too long public trust in our democracy has been damaged and faith in our institutions has been allowed to decline." She said ministers are "taking action to break down barriers to participation". Minister for Democracy Rushanara Ali described it as a "generational step forward". It is the first time the voting ages since the 1960s. Harry Quilter-Pinner, director of think-tank the IPPR, said: "Our democracy is in crisis, and we risk reaching a tipping point where politics loses its legitimacy. The government has clearly heard these alarm bells. The policies announced today represent the biggest reform to our electoral system since 1969, more than 50 years. " And he continued: "At a time when public trust in politics is at a low ebb, this expansion of our democracy is a vital step toward rebuilding confidence, modernising our institutions, and pushing back against the rise of populism." Green Party MP, Ellie Chowns said: 'On this one, Labour have got it right. Giving 16- and 17-year-olds the vote is a long-overdue step towards a stronger, more inclusive democracy. Young people have powerful voices and a vital stake in decisions about their future — it's only right that they have a say at the ballot box." But she called on the Government to go further by scrapping the House of Lords and bringing in proportional voting - a system that would benefit smaller parties.
The Guardian
25 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Join the army, work full-time … and now vote: what 16-year-olds can do in the UK
Turning 16 opens up a whole suite of exciting new freedoms. Now, those celebrating their baby steps into adulthood in the UK have another thrilling task for their to-do lists: heading to the voting booth. Thursday marked one of the largest changes to the country's democratic system in recent times after Labour announced the voting age would be lowered to 16 before the next general election. Scotland and Wales have already made the change for Holyrood and Senedd elections, as well as local council elections, but the move means 16-year-olds will have a say over who becomes prime minister for the first time. For some, the change has been a long time coming, especially considering what 16-year-olds can already legally do: Those aged 16 and 17 can join the British army as a junior soldier, where they will learn survival skills including handling and firing weapons. They earn above minimum wage for their age group, with monthly pay starting between £1,500 and £1,800. Accommodation and other bills are paid for. For some people, ringing in the 16th year is accompanied with bottles of suspiciously cheap booze and a raging house party. However, for those who want to stay out of trouble but still fancy a tipple, a pub under the watchful eye of an adult may be the best setup. It is against the law to buy alcohol or drink it in licensed premises alone but, if you are 16 or 17 and accompanied by an adult, you can drink beer, wine or cider with a meal. The drink must be bought by someone over 18. Although unable to buy it, 16- and 17-year-olds can legally serve alcohol in a restaurant. The late teens are often a time when youngsters make impulsive decisions they later regret. Ill-fated tattoos, questionable fashion choices and horrible music tastes all fit the bill, but some changes are harder to reverse. Sixteen-year-olds in England, Wales and Northern Ireland can legally change their names. All it takes is a dare gone wrong or a deluded belief that a nickname will still sound cool at 50 to take the plunge. Youngsters in Scotland have to wait until they turn 18 for the privilege. The days of stretching out lunch money or hoarding birthday cash to buy a pair of new trainers are gone. At 16 you can work most full-time jobs. You can also open a bank account on your own, meaning you can keep your parents' noses out of your financial affairs. Don't disregard their advice altogether, however. They're right sometimes.
BBC News
25 minutes ago
- BBC News
First Cumbria mayoral election deferred to May 2027
A proposed mayoral election has been delayed to 2027 in a bid to save and Westmorland and Furness councils wrote to the government earlier this month to request deferring the proposed 2026 mayoral election in Cumbria to the following authorities said at the time holding the election would cost about £1m, but holding it in conjunction with the already planned local elections in 2027 would "save significant resources".The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) confirmed that the request had now been granted. It said the next steps were to work with the councils to establish the Cumbria Mayoral Combined Authority (CMCA). If granted consent by the local authorities, secondary legislation would be laid in Parliament, it said. Following approval by Parliament, the CMCA would be established in early 2026, followed by the first mayoral election in the region in May a letter to the government the two local authorities previously wrote: "This request is made in the spirit of constructive partnership and with a shared ambition to ensure the strongest possible foundations for a successful new governance model that delivers for the people of Cumbria." Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
