Political Compass
Where do the candidates sit on the political spectrum? This compass maps each candidate on two axes — economic policy (left to right) and social values (authoritarian to libertarian) — based on AI analysis of their manifesto, public statements, and media coverage.
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Hover over or click a candidate dot on the compass to see their position details.
All Candidates
Understanding the Compass
Economic Axis (Left ↔ Right)
The horizontal axis measures economic policy preferences — how much the candidate believes the government should intervene in the economy versus letting market forces operate freely.
Strong state intervention. Higher taxes on wealth, nationalised services, universal public provision, wealth redistribution. “The government should provide.”
Pragmatic mix. Supports market economy with targeted regulation and public services. Most Isle of Man candidates sit near here — the island has no formal party system and tends toward pragmatism.
Minimal government intervention. Lower taxes, privatisation, deregulation, individual economic freedom. “The market should decide.”
Social Axis (Authoritarian ↔ Libertarian)
The vertical axis measures social values — how much personal freedom the candidate believes individuals should have versus how much the state should enforce social norms.
Strong state authority over social matters. Stricter law enforcement, traditional values, immigration controls, national identity emphasis. “Society needs order.”
Balanced approach. Supports both individual freedoms and reasonable social guardrails. Pragmatic on immigration, policing, and cultural matters.
Maximum personal freedom. Progressive social policies, minimal state intrusion into personal life, open borders, civil liberties emphasis. “People should decide for themselves.”
The Four Quadrants
Libertarian Left
Socially progressive and economically interventionist. Believes in collective ownership, strong public services, and individual social freedoms. Supports environmental protection, workers' rights, and social justice.
IoM context: Favour expanding NHS services, affordable housing schemes, environmental protections, while championing personal freedoms and community-led initiatives.
Libertarian Right
Socially progressive and economically free-market. Believes in individual freedom in both economic and personal spheres. Supports low taxes, deregulation, and personal liberty.
IoM context: The island's low-tax status and finance sector attract this perspective. Favour maintaining tax advantages, reducing bureaucracy, while supporting personal freedoms.
Authoritarian Left
Economically interventionist with strong state authority. Believes in state-directed economy, public ownership, and centralised planning. Supports strict regulation and social order alongside wealth redistribution.
IoM context: Rare on the island. Might favour nationalising the Steam Packet, strict planning controls, and stronger government oversight of private sector activity.
Authoritarian Right
Economically free-market with strong state authority on social matters. Believes in traditional values, national identity, strong law enforcement, and free enterprise. Supports immigration controls and social conservatism.
IoM context: Favour protecting Manx identity and culture, strict immigration work permits, strong policing, while maintaining the island's business-friendly tax regime.
The Isle of Man Context
The Isle of Man is unique in having no formal party system. Every MHK stands as an independent. This means the political compass is even more useful here than in party-based systems — there are no party labels to guide voters, so understanding each candidate's individual position is essential.
In practice, most IoM candidates cluster near the centre. The island's small size, consensus-based governance through Tynwald, and pragmatic political culture mean extreme positions are rare. However, meaningful differences exist on key issues:
- Housing — build more vs protect green belt
- Steam Packet — nationalise vs maintain private monopoly
- Tax — expand revenue base vs maintain low-tax status
- NHS — increase spending vs efficiency reforms
- Digital/AI — proactive investment vs cautious approach
- Work permits — liberalise vs restrict
- Environment — biosphere-first vs development-first
These differences matter. A score of -2 vs +2 on housing policy could mean the difference between 500 new homes being built or not.
Candidate Positions
| Candidate | Constituency | Economic | Social | Quadrant |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peter Shimmin | Douglas Central | -2 | -1 | Authoritarian Left |
| Sarah Maltby | Douglas South | -6 | -4 | Authoritarian Left |
| Mark Firth | Arbory, Castletown & Malew | -2 | -3 | Authoritarian Left |
| Simon Williams | Rushen | -2 | -1 | Authoritarian Left |
Methodology & Limitations
Positions are estimated by AI (Azure OpenAI) from publicly available evidence: news articles, manifesto documents, social media, interviews, and Hansard records. The AI is given IoM-specific context and instructed to be balanced and evidence-based.
Limitations: These are estimates, not self-assessments. Candidates may position themselves differently in private. The AI works from available evidence, which may be incomplete for recently-announced candidates. Positions may shift as more evidence is collected throughout the campaign.
Updates: The compass is refreshed weekly as new evidence (news articles, manifesto updates, debates) is collected and analysed.