A local journalist turned politician has called on the BBC to cover more than “just politics” on her old patch amid plans to recruit a new reporter there.

Daphne Caine has claimed people on the Isle of Man are feeling “short-changed” by the BBC’s coverage, although the corporation says it will soon be taking on a fourth journalist for the island.

Daphne, pictured, worked as a reporter with Isle of Man Newspapers from 1989 to 1996 before taking up a career with the island’s civil service.

In 2016 she was elected to the House of Keys, its parliament the Tynwald’s lower chamber, as an independent.

Speaking in the Tynwald, the Isle of Man’s policy and reform minister Chris Thomas said a recent meeting with the BBC had been “extremely constructive”.

But Daphne said in response the islands “feel they’re very much not part of England”, and the coverage should feature more than “just politics”.

She added: “For our own culture and identity to be reflected properly, for the licence fee that all households are paying, it does feel like we are being very much short-changed.”

A BBC spokesman said: “We’re pleased we’ll soon be recruiting a political reporter based on the Isle of Man.

“This exciting new role will expand our existing resource and help us explain and scrutinise even more the work of Tynwald and other public bodies.

“We already have three journalists on the island and fund a local democracy reporter there though our Local News Partnerships.”