Liberal Vannin Party

The Liberal Vannin Party (LVP; Manx: Partee Libraalagh Vannin) is a political party on the Isle of Man. It was founded in 2006 by Peter Karran, then an Independent MHK for Onchan. Karran had been, until 2004, a member of the Manx Labour Party. The "Vannin" in the party name is a form of the name of the Isle of Man in the native Manx Gaelic language, while "Liberal" is a reference to the general political position of the party.

Liberal Vannin Party
LeaderLawrie Hooper MHK
ChairmanMichael Josem[1]
FounderPeter Karran MHK
Founded2006
HeadquartersDouglas, Isle of Man
IdeologyLiberalism[2]
Manx devolution
Euroscepticism[3] [4]
Political positionCentre
International affiliationLiberal International (Observer)
UK affiliationLiberal Democrats[5]
House of Keys
1 / 24
Legislative Council
0 / 11
Douglas Borough Council
1 / 18
Website
liberalvannin.im

The Liberal Vannin Party put forward several candidates at the 2006 general election and had two MHKs elected. In the 2011 general election, they returned three MHKs. This result was mirrored in the 2016 general election, but one of these subsequently resigned from the party, and one died in 2020. As of 2020, they are the only party in the House of Keys; the remaining 23 out of the 24 members are independents. The party also holds 1 of 18 seats on the Douglas Borough Council.

The party campaigns on a platform of greater accountability and transparency in government[6] and also strives for further devolution from the United Kingdom to the Isle of Man. Liberal Vannin has an unclear position on Brexit, contrary to the clear pro-EU position of the Liberal Democrats.[7] [8]

History

The Liberal Vannin Party was founded in 2006 by Peter Karran, a former member of the Manx Labour Party. Karran was joined by Tony Wright who was already intending to contest Rushen as an independent. It was announced that their target seats would be Douglas South, Middle and Onchan.[6]

The party stood nine candidates in the 2006 Manx general election, and two of them were elected: Peter Karran in Onchan and Bill Malarkey in Douglas South. Karran received more votes than any other candidate in the election. After being elected representing the Liberal Vannin Party, Malarkey resigned from the party and sat as an independent. The Liberal Vannin Party sent delegates to the Liberal International's 2007 Hamburg Conference, where they became Observer Members pending verification at the 2008 Belfast Conference.[9] Since the 2008 Belfast Conference, Liberal Vannin has been an official Observer Member of Liberal International.[10] The Liberal Vannin Party is also listed as a "Sister Party" of the British Liberal Democrats.[11]

At the 2011 Manx general election, the Liberal Vannin Party stood ten candidates, received 20.9% of the vote and had three Members of the House of Keys elected.[12] These were Peter Karran and Zac Hall in Onchan, and Kate Beecroft in Douglas South. Beecroft, standing as the official Liberal Vannin candidate, defeated Bill Malarkey who had previously been a member of the party but was contesting the seat as an independent.

From 2011 to 2012, Karran served in the Isle of Man Government as the Minister for Education and Children.[13] In May 2012 Zac Hall had his membership revoked for "bringing the party into disrepute", leaving them with only two MHKs.[14] In 2014 Kate Beecroft (subsequently known as Kate Costain) was elected Leader of the Liberal Vannin Party, with Karran saying it "was time for a change".[15][16][17]

In 2020, Costain resigned and Lawrie Hooper MHK was elected as her replacement.[18] He is now the only LibVan MHK.

Policies

The Liberal Vannin Party (LVP) has promoted the following policies:

  • Addressing the Housing Crisis – "Nests for People not nest eggs for investors".
  • Facing the Facts On Immigration – "A Prosperous and Caring Society, NOT Unlimited Immigration".
  • The Economy – Making “Freedom to Flourish” more than just a slogan.
  • Law & Order – "Putting the Bobby Back On The Beat".
  • The Health Service – "Giving Patients More Choice".
  • Protecting Pensions – "Providing certainty and fairness to pensioners".
  • Education – "Towards a Competent and Self Reliant Society".
  • Government Reform – "Getting more value from the Public Sector".
  • Protecting Our Environment.

The Liberal Vannin Party (LVP) says it is committed to "sustainable development" for the protection of the environment and supports the encouragement of a culture of recycling and environmental awareness.

The Liberal Vannin Party, assisted by Kevin Joseph McCarthy MSc, has been developing a "green" policy, which aims to invest in the appropriate technology and infrastructure to support environmental and economic goals in the spirit of the "Agenda 21" as put forth by the United Nations. A key initiative under the new policy is to investigate tidal and wind power as a means of generating alternative energy sources for the Island.

General election results: House of Keys
Liberal Vannin Party
Election year Total no. of votes Overall % of votes No. of seats won
2006 7,323 14.2%
2 / 24
2011 11,679 20.9%
3 / 24
2016 3,597 6.4%
3 / 24

Party leaders
Leader Tenure Notes
Peter Karran, MHK2006–2014MHK from 1985–2016
Kate Beecroft, MHK2014–2020MHK from 2011–present
Lawrie Hooper MHK2020–present

See also

References
  1. "Michael Josem elected chair of LibVan". Manx Radio. 12 July 2019. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  2. Nordsieck, Wolfram (2016). "Isle of Man/UK". Parties and Elections in Europe. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
  3. "IOM vote leave website".
  4. "Contrasting views on impact of Brexit".
  5. http://www.libdems.org.uk/sister_parties
  6. "New Manx political party launched". BBC News. 4 September 2006. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
  7. "IOM vote leave website".
  8. "Contrasting views on impact of Brexit".
  9. "Hamburg 2007". Liberal International. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
  10. "Liberal Vannin Party – Isle of Man". Liberal International. Archived from the original on 22 March 2016. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
  11. "Sister Parties". Liberal Democrats. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
  12. Goodman, Mike (28 October 2011). "All change in the Manx government". The Telegraph. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
  13. "Peter Karran MHK". Liberal Vannin Party. Archived from the original on 3 February 2015. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
  14. "About Us". Liberal Vannin Party. Archived from the original on 4 February 2015. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
  15. "Kate Beecroft MHK". Liberal Vannin Party. Archived from the original on 12 April 2015. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
  16. "Kate is new Lib Van leader". IOM Today. 24 February 2014. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
  17. Vannin, Ellan (24 February 2014). "Kate Beecroft succeeds Peter Karran as Liberal Vannin leader". BBC News. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
  18. IOM Today
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