Tynwald Day 'lost its way' says Mec Vannin

Group not ruling out return to fair field

Mec Vannin's chairman says the party could not continue to support Tynwald Day as it is becoming 'increasingly irrelevant'.

The group has promoted its nationalist republican message (as well as selling traditional bollan bane) at St John's every year since the 1960s.

But members refused to attend this year as the organising committee moved their stall to the back of the fair field - a move they claimed was a deliberate attempt to silence them.

Mark Kermode believes Tynwald Day has become 'more about the people representing politicians than politicians representing the people' - and pointed to declining attendance year on year.

But he has not ruled out Mec Vannin returning to the fair.