Last week Culture Vannin teamed up with Mooinjer Veggey to celebrate International Mother Languages Day. As part of the Year of the Manx Language they invited second language communities to come together to explore the richness of linguistic diversity in the Isle of Man. Find more about the Island’s amazing cultural communities on this week’s Perspective Are we doing enough to share Manx culture with others? Can our passion for our own languages and heritage bring us all together? Perhaps we could build the Tower of Babel on the old Lord Street site?

What did the Treasury Minister actually deliver in last Tuesday’s Tynwald sitting? Was it a give away pre-election budget through prudent use of reserves to help kick start the economy or a reckless raid on government’s hard earned savings. I suspect the answer lies somewhere between the two but what did Tynwald members make of it? What is clear is the vast majority of earners will be better off in the next tax year but is the continued use of reserves sustainable? Hopefully the extra money the government is keen to stuff in our back pockets won’t come at a cost after the election.

Government finances have read a little like recent weather forecasts, with a gloomy outlook, risk of budget overtopping particularly in health, and economic storms battering our sparse reserves. One former Treasury Minister who wasn’t afraid to grapple with the economic challenges of the day was Eddie Teare. He talks to Perspective about how he went about preparing a budget and considers what next week’s Budget might deliver. As if economic circumstances were’nt bad enough the aftermath of last month’s sackings has caused some disaffection in Tynwald ranks. Will next week’s Budget include brighter spells and sunny uplands?