Real power needed to attract candidates, says former councillor

Only a third of the Island's areas will head to the polls later this month

If government wants more people coming forward to stand in local authority elections, it needs to give real power to those local authorities.

That's the view of former Douglas Councillor and long-serving MHK Brenda Cannell, who retired from politics last year, after more than two decades of involvement.

Just one-third of the Island's local authority areas will have elections at the end of the month, with others needing by-elections eventually in another attempt to fill their boards.

Mrs Cannell says there's one responsibility in particular which would stimulate real interest, if it was handed over by central government.