Manx and UK relations top agenda

KSF Isle of Man bank was closed last month

The relationship between the Isle of Man and the UK will be top of the agenda when the Chief Minister meets with Lord Chancellor Jack Straw.

The meeting comes after Chancellor Alistair Darling said the UK government must have a "long, hard look" at the island's status as a tax haven.

He made the comment at a UK select committee on the collapse of Icelandic bank Kaupthing Singer and Friedlander.

Tony Brown MHK said he wanted the remark clarified to maintain relations.

As Lord Chancellor, Mr Straw is responsible for the government's constitutional affairs, including crown dependencies which extends to the Isle of Man.

On Wednesday, President of Tynwald Noel Cringle and speaker of the House of Keys Steve Rodan were involved in a series of meetings, held at Westminster, to promote a better understanding of the island's constitutional relationships with the UK.

The UK is in ongoing talks on behalf of the Isle of Man with Iceland - which nationalised Kaupthing - to retrieve savers' money.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version