Ramsey MHK Leonard Singer has announced his intention to stand for election in the House of Keys General Election on September 22.

Mr Singer said he took the decision ‘after much deliberation’ and pledges to bring ‘experience where it counts’ to the governing of the island.

A Ramsey resident for 27 years Mr Singer has served as the town’s MHK for 13 years, as a member of the Legislative Council for three years and as a Ramsey Town Commissioner for nine years.

He is the Department of Economic Development Member with responsibility for the financial and professional services sector; country strategy; the companies, general, ship and aircraft registries; and the space sector.

Mr Singer said: ‘Never has it been more vital that we have strong leadership and a deep understanding of the issues that matter to the people of the Isle of Man. Importantly, we need a mix of new Members and new ideas combined with the continuity and experience longer-serving politicians bring to government.

‘In short, a government which after September 22 can hit the ground running.

‘I believe I have those qualities which will be needed in Tynwald to navigate the island through the challenges brought about by financial pressures, steadily depleting reserves, a massive public sector pension deficit and continual attacks on our transparency and openness by countries whose own standards are open to question.

‘Government’s budgets are being stretched to the limits. However, I strongly believe there is potential to do what’s best for all of our community and the Island’s future.

‘For more than 20 years, as an MHK and as a Ramsey Town Commissioner, I have campaigned to bring greater visibility to the issues that matter to the people of Ramsey, a town where I was in business as a pharmacist and where I brought up my three children, one of whom is still in education. With this in mind I shall be encouraging young people to exercise their right to vote, because it is their future wellbeing which influences many of our decisions today.’

He went on to say that to serve as an MHK required ‘full-time commitment’. He explained: ‘It’s simply not possible or fair to those who elected you to offer anything less than 100 per cent of your time to being an MHK, a role which means far more than merely attending a sitting in the House of Keys once a week and in Tynwald Court once a month. Being an MHK is effectively a seven days a week commitment. To attempt to be personally involved in a business or professional life and combine that with the demands now required of an MHK is just not practicable; it means you fail your customers, your clients, your constituents and, ultimately, the Isle of Man.

‘Ramsey deserves nothing less than total commitment from its MHKs. I can deliver on that commitment.’

To find out more email leonard.singer@manx.net or call 309090.