Mediaboss Marketing

by Manx Rally Media

Mark Higgins, one of the foremost names in the world of rallying, has accepted an invitation from Rally Isle of Man to become the events first Patron.

Amongst his many claims to fame, Manxman Mark, now based in Wales, holds the record for most victories on the event, uniquely including wins in Formula 2, World Rally Car and Production eras that helped land three British Rally Championship crowns.

His five victories started in 2000, but it was stellar drives on his home rally as far back as the early 1990s that helped make his name and set him on the path that has seen him drive with factory teams for Vauxhall, Nissan, Renault, Ford, Volkswagen.

John Gill, Rally Isle of Man Chairman is delighted that Mark has accepted the role. We are proud to have a Manxman accept the position as our first Patron, and it will be a huge boost for the event to have our own local hero, synonymous with this event, at the top of the letterhead.

More importantly Marks knowledge and experience will hopefully prove a terrific sounding board for the exciting ideas we are currently working on, and who knows, we may even encourage him into a car come September!

Mark has welcomed the opportunity to take on the role.

The Manx has always been a very special event for me and the reason I was lucky enough to fulfil my dream to become a professional drive.

This is a great honour and I hope we can all work hard to get the event back to where it deserves to be, as one of the most unique and best tarmac rally's in the world.

Go here to read the rest:
Mark Higgins Becomes First Rally Isle of Man Patron

by Stephen Ritch

The Rt.Hon. Sir Alan Haselhurst MP is to be guest speaker at the Isle of Man Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) dinner on Tuesday, March 13.

Conservative MP for Saffron Walden since 1977 Sir Alan chairs the UK CPA and in July 2011 was elected chairperson of the CPA international executive committee. Knighted in 1995 he is a former deputy Speaker of the House of Commons and has spoken of the need for the CPA to focus on the diverse and complex issues facing island states and smaller branches.

The self-funded event, with a guest list of present and former CPA members, will be held at the Claremont Hotel and include entertainment provided by the senior guitar ensemble from the Isle of Man Department of Education and Childrens music service.

While in the Island Sir Alan will visit the Legislative Buildings where he will be given a tour of Tynwald Court conducted by the President of Tynwald the Hon Clare Christian MLC and of the House of Keys led by the Speaker, Hon Steve Rodan MHK, during which the Tynwald voice recognition transcription technology will be demonstrated. Sir Alan will also meet with the executive committee of the Isle of Man branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and visit Tynwald Hill and the Royal Chapel at St Johns.

CPA Isle of Man branch chairman Mr Juan Watterson MHK said: We are honoured to welcome Sir Alan to the Isle of Man following his election as CPA international executive committee chairperson. He brings strong leadership and direction to the association at a time of change across the Commonwealth and we very much look forward to what, I am sure, will be an insightful speech.

-ENDS-

If you'd like to send any information or news releases to us then please feel free to do so and we would be more than happy to consider sharing your news with the Isle of Man!

Send your Isle of Man news to:webmaster@manx.net

Manx Telecom Ltd 2012

Original post:
UK CPA Chair To Be Guest Speaker at Isle of Man CPA Commonwealth Day Dinner

The decision caused outrage among Liberal Democrat supporters, many of whom are students. A call to increase the cost of being a student by hundreds of pounds through the introduction of council tax is likely to prove deeply unpopular.

It is understood that the Conservatives are strongly opposed to ending the student exemption on council tax.

The Liberal Democrats have been broadly criticised over the issue of tuition fees, after reneging on pre-election promises not to raise university charges.

While in opposition, leader Nick Clegg pledged to abandon the fees altogether and won the support of thousands of students across Britain.

Before the election, he signed a promise not to raise tuition fees, saying unequivocally: We want to abolish tuition fees. We think they're wrong.

But after joining the coalition government, he claimed the economic situation forced him to accept the rise.

His party signed up to government policy allowing institutions to charge up to 9,000 pounds a year, a change which saw student fees rocket.

Tens of thousands of students took to the streets to protest against the rise, wielding effigies and placards accusing the Lib Dem leader of conning them.

He later admitted he had not been able to deliver the policy that we held in opposition and blamed the financial situation for the change.

At the time, Labour deputy leader Harriet Harman ridiculed Mr Clegg, claiming he had hawked his way around university campuses seeking student votes ahead of the general election.

Go here to see the original:
Students should face paying council tax, Lib Dems say

By Colm Heatley - Wed Mar 07 00:00:01 GMT 2012

Peter Muhly/AFP/Getty Images

Stormont Parliament buildings in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Stormont Parliament buildings in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Photographer: Peter Muhly/AFP/Getty Images

Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images

A ferris wheel is seen by City Hall in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

A ferris wheel is seen by City Hall in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Photographer: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images

For Belfast clothing retailer Michael Hamilton, power is money.

The owner of the Bureau, a store in downtown Belfast selling handcrafted Alden leather shoes at 600 pounds ($952) and designer jeans for 300 pounds, wants Northern Ireland to wrest control from the U.K. over taxes levied on companies and align them with Ireland to the south. The 46-year-old reckons it would attract employers and enrich the local population.

Trading is brutal, Hamilton said at his shop on Howard Street in the Northern Irish capital. Getting corporation tax cut and attracting high-end jobs would be brilliant for us. It would be great if those people were living in Belfast.

See the rest here:
Northern Irish Freedom Fight Turns Into Taxing Battle for U.K. Government

Westpac has confirmed plans to send 119 technology jobs overseas to cut costs.

A Westpac spokesman said staff working in the affected parts of the bank were told last week their jobs would go.

The decision to axe those roles, which supported IT development and systems maintenance, came after a review that started in November 2011.

Those affected would be offered retraining for redeployment into roles in other parts of the bank, if possible, or receive their full benefits and entitlements.

"We are committed to retaining our core highly skilled technology workforce in Australia," Westpac head of group media relations Paul Marriage said.

"But some IT roles can be more efficiently done by external specialists like IBM."

Mr Marriage said these 119 technology jobs, as well as seven positions in the collections area of the bank, was separate to Westpac's announcement in February of plans to cut more than 400 jobs and send up to another 150 offshore as part of a restructure.

Mr Marriage said Westpac had found 1500 new roles for staff in the past eight months as a result of internal changes.

The job cuts were first raised by the Finance Sector Union (FSU) on Tuesday morning, and national secretary Leon Carter said the decision was completely unjustified.

"The only reason they are losing their jobs is because our most profitable bank thinks it can now get the job done more cheaply offshore," Mr Carter said in a statement.

Excerpt from:
Union says Westpac to cut staff