Open discussion 'stifled by goverment'

Nationalists told debate quashed

Open discussion is being stifled by government.

That was one of the allegations made by the English speaker at this year's Illiam Dhone ceremony held on Saturday.

The annual event has for many years provided a platform for Manx Nationalists to have their say and often be broadly critical of government policy.

Editor of Mec Vannin's newsletter Pete Crellin was speaking for the first time at the ceremony.

He told the crowd that whilst it was good for people to have different opinions and thought and debate were to be encouraged, the Manx government was only paying lip service to providing such opportunities.