MHK sceptical of growth assumptions

Forecasts 'not supported' by past performance

An awful lot to be admired and a step in the right direction, but the devil is in the detail.

That view of the Manx Budget from North Douglas MHK David Ashford.

He questioned how much the man and the woman in the street was feeling the benefits of the five per cent increase in GDP. 

And he said he was concerned about relying on forecasted higher tax receipts and VAT income to underpin the budget.

Mr Ashford said his own research suggested consecutive years of growth in both areas was highly unusual: