Governor's £700,000 cost revealed

Manx taxpayers paid just under £700,000 for the Lieutenant Governor last year.

The £698,534, figure - revealed in a Freedom of Information request - included the salaries of eight staff members. 

The FOI also revealed that the gardening contract for Government House last year cost around £100,000 while building maintenance over the same period cost nearly £60,000. 

Local advocate Ian Kermode, who submitted the request, described the spending as 'extravagant' and asked if it was necessary during difficult economic times.