Nearly £2,000 has been spent training the island’s MHKs how to deal with the media.
A Freedom of Information Request submitted on January 27 asked: ’I seek the publication of the costs of media training provided to ministers since the General Election on September 23 2021.
’I also seek publication of the details as to what this training involved and who provided it.’
In response, the government confirmed £1,800 has been spent on training given by Isle of Man Advertising & PR.
The government stated that the firm ’has provided one-to-one sessions that included face-toface, practical, and challenging training, designed to equip delegates with skills and techniques to deal with requests from a variety of media, such as television, radio, online or print.’
In July 2021, then Chief Minister Howard Quayle confirmed that more than £120,000 had been spent on public speaking training for government ministers in the last five years.