- 2016 Review of the Functioning of Tynwald
- 1990 reform and current composition
- Current membership
- Membership of the council since 1990
- Past membership
- Historical composition Original 1917 reform 1919 reform 1961 reform 1965 reform 1969 reform 1975 reform 1980 reform
- References
{{Infobox legislature | name = Legislative Council | native_name = Yn Choonceil Slattyssagh | transcription_name = | legislature = | coa_pic = | coa_res = | coa-pic = | coa-res = | house_type = Upper house | body = Tynwald | leader1_type = President | leader1 = Stephen Rodan | party1 = | election1 = 19 July 2016 | members = 11 | structure1 = Isle of Man LegCo.svg | structure1_res = 250px | structure2 = | structure2_res = | political_groups1 = {{ubl | {{Color box|#DDDDDD|border=darkgray}} Independent (7) | {{Color box|#87CEEB|border=darkgray}} Ex officio (3) | {{Color box|#DC241F|border=darkgray}} Manx Labour (1) | political_groups2 = | committees1 = | committees2 = | joint_committees = | voting_system1 = Indirect election | voting_system2 = | last_election1 = | session_room = | session_res = | meeting_place = | website = www.tynwald.org.im/council | footnotes = }}{{Politics of the Isle of Man}}The Legislative Council ({{lang-gv|Yn Choonceil Slattyssagh}}) is the upper chamber of Tynwald, the legislature of the Isle of Man. The abbreviation "LegCo" is often used.[1] It consists of eleven members (MLCs): - Eight members elected by the House of Keys
- Three ex officio members:
- President of Tynwald, ex officio President of the Legislative Council (casting vote)
- Bishop of Sodor and Man
- Attorney General for the Isle of Man (non-voting)
The MLCs are elected by the members of the House of Keys for a term of five years. Four MLCs retire at a time, and four new MLCs are then elected. An MLC must be at least 21 years old and resident in the Isle of Man. Historically the election procedure has been cumbersome, and on some occasions in recent years the election has required a large number of ballots, stretching over a period of weeks or even months. However the Standing Orders of the House of Keys regarding the election of MLCs were amended on 4 April 2017, and a relevant Guidance Note was issued by the Speaker of the House of Keys in June 2017. In 2018, only one ballot was required, although some feel that that was at the cost of allowing members to vote for an excessive number of candidates (one member voted for 13 candidates out of 15 and another for 11).[2][3] Historically, most or all elected MLCs were former MHKs, but this practice has now much reduced or ceased. Formerly, the Lieutenant Governor presided over the Legislative Council and over Tynwald Court (a joint session of the Council and the House of Keys). Now, however, the President of Tynwald, who is chosen by the whole Tynwald for a five-year term, is the ex officio President of the Legislative Council, and presides over both the Legislative Council and Tynwald Court, except that the Lieutenant Governor presides once a year on Tynwald Day. Furthermore, the Church of England Bishop of Sodor and Man and the Attorney General have seats on the Legislative Council. The Bishop is a voting member, the Attorney General is a non-voting member, and the President has the casting vote. The Council does not usually originate legislation (until recently the last Act originating from the Council was the Sharing of Church Buildings Act 1986){{citation needed|date=January 2017}}. Instead, it reviews draft legislation originating from the House of Keys. However, it is possible for legislation to originate in the Council: a recent example is the Equality Act 2017.[4][5] 2016 Review of the Functioning of TynwaldFor many years there has been considerable debate about the functioning of Tynwald, and specifically about the composition, method of election, and functions of the Legislative Council. In the past, a number of reforms were made in the composition of the Legislative Council, which are set out below. In 2016 Lord Lisvane was asked to carry out a review of the functioning of Tynwald.[6] Among his recommendations were: - Members of the Legislative Council should continue not to be directly elected, but instead should be nominated by an independent Nominations Commission to the House of Keys. No sitting MHK could be nominated.
- The Legislative Council should not vote on taxation or appropriation.
- Only exceptionally should MLCs be ministers.
- The Bishop should continue as an ex officio voting member of the Legislative Council.
1990 reform and current compositionThe Lieutenant Governor is removed as Presiding Officer of Tynwald and replaced by a member of Tynwald elected by the Members of the Court (i.e. the High Court of Tynwald) as President of Tynwald. The President of Tynwald is also a member of the Legislative Council and presides at its sittings. The members are thus: - President of Tynwald
- Attorney General
- Bishop of Sodor and Man
- Eight members elected by the House of Keys
The non-ex officio members are elected by the House of Keys for terms which end at the end of February immediately before the fifth anniversary of their election. Current membership Name | Position | Tenure | Predecessor |
---|
Steve Rodan | President of Tynwald | 2016–2021 | Clare Christian | Peter Eagles | Bishop of Sodor and Man | Since 2017 | Robert Paterson | John Quinn | Acting Attorney General | 2013–2017 | Stephen Harding | Attorney General | Since 2017 | David Cretney | Elected members | 2015–2020 | rowspan="8" {{n/a}} | Timothy Crookall | Bill Henderson | Jane Poole-Wilson | 2017–2023 | Kerry Sharpe | 2018–2020 | Elected under the name of Tanya Humbles.}} | 2018–2023 | Kate Lord-Brennan | Elected under the name of Marlene Hendy.}} | {{noteslist}}In marked contrast to tradition, all five members elected in March 2018 are women. Membership of the council since 1990 Year | Reason for change | Previous | Candidates |
---|
{{dts|2018|3|12|format=dmy | Scheduled election, and casual vacancy by resignation[7] | {{ubl | Michael Coleman | Geoff Corkish | Jane Poole-Wilson | Juan Turner | }}{{ubl | Tanya Humbles (elected) | Marlene Hendy (elected) | Kate Lord-Brennan (elected) | Jane Poole-Wilson (elected) |
---|
{{ubl | David Anderson (resigned, term ending Feb 2020) | }}{{ubl | Kerry Sharpe (elected) }} | {{ubl | Kevin Cartledge | Shirley Ellen Corlett | Andrea Chambers | Richard Furner | Andrew Hardy | Juan Kelly | Dawn Joughin | Alistair Ramsay | John Skinner | Christine Wheeler | 2017 | Casual vacancy by resignation | Tony Wild | }}{{ubl | Jane Poole-Wilson (elected) |
---|
{{ubl | Paul Beckett | Alan Wright | 2015 | Scheduled election | {{ubl | Phil Braidwood | Dudley Butt | Alan Crowe | Alex Downie | }}{{ubl | David Anderson (elected) | David Cretney (elected) | Tim Crookall (elected) | Bill Henderson (elected) }} |
---|
{{ubl | Paul Beckett | Phil Braidwood | Christopher Kinley | Thomas Moyle | Adrian Tinkler | Note: As on other occasions, the 2015 elections took place over several sessions and many ballots. These candidates did not all take part in all the ballots. For the same reason it would not be useful to give the number of votes cast for each candidate. | 2013 | Scheduled election | {{ubl | David Callister | Edmund Lowey | Juan Turner | Tony Wild | }}{{ubl | Michael Coleman (elected) | Geoff Corkish (elected) | Juan Turner (elected) | Tony Wild (elected) }} |
---|
{{ubl | Linda Bowers-Kasch | Peter Hill | Nigel Malpass | 2011 | Casual vacancy by elevation to President of Tynwald | Clare Christian | }}{{ubl | Tony Wild, 16 votes (elected) |
---|
{{ubl | Brian Rae, 5 votes | 2011 | Casual vacancy by resignation | Noel Cringle | }}{{ubl | Clare Christian (elected) |
---|
{{ubl | Tony Brown | Steve Rodan | 2011 | Appointment of Attorney General, following resignation | John Corlett QC | Stephen Harding QC |
---|
2010 | Scheduled election | {{ubl | Alan Crowe | Dudley Butt | Alex Downie | George Waft | }}{{ubl | Phil Braidwood (elected) | Dudley Butt (elected) | Alan Crowe (elected) | Alex Downie (elected) |
---|
{{ubl | Barbara Brereton | Brenda Cannell | John Skinner | David Talbot | George Waft | Kevin Woodford | 2008 | Scheduled election | {{ubl | Clare Christian | Pamela Crowe | Edmund Lowey | Juan Turner | }}{{ubl | David Callister (elected) | Clare Christian (elected) | Edmund Lowey (elected) | Juan Turner (elected) |
---|
{{ubl | Pamela Crowe | Simon Graley | Dick Horsnell | 2008 | Appointment of Bishop of Sodor and Man | Graeme Paul Knowles | Robert Paterson |
---|
2007 | Casual vacancies by resignation | {{ubl | Donald Gelling | Leonard Singer | }}{{ubl | Alan Crowe (elected) | Juan Turner (elected) }} |
---|
{{ubl | Charles Cain | Peter Kelly | John Lightfoot | David Moore | David Owens | Richard Radcliffe | Leonard Singer | 2005 | Scheduled election | {{ubl | Dominic Delaney | Donald Gelling | Ray Kniveton | George Waft | }}{{ubl | Dudley Butt (elected) | Alex Downie (elected) | Donald Gelling (elected) | George Waft (elected) |
---|
{{ubl | Dominic Delaney | Howard Parkin | 2003 | Scheduled election, and casual vacancy by resignation | {{ubl | Clare Christian | Alan Crowe | Ray Kniveton | Edmund Lowey | }}{{ubl | Clare Christian (elected) | Pamela Crowe (elected) | Edmund Lowey (elected) | Leonard Singer (elected) |
---|
{{ubl | Edgar Mann (resigned) | }}{{ubl | Ray Kniveton (elected) | {{ubl | St John Bates | Andrew Roy | date=February 2018}} | 2003 | Appointment of Bishop of Sodor and Man, following resignation | Noël Jones | Graeme Knowles |
---|
2002 | Casual vacancy by death | Norman Radcliffe | }}{{ubl | Donald Gelling (elected) |
---|
2000 | Scheduled election | {{ubl | Dominic Delaney | Edgar Mann | Norman Radcliffe | George Waft | }}{{ubl | Dominic Delaney (elected) | Edgar Mann (elected) | Norman Radcliffe (elected) | George Waft (elected) |
---|
{{ubl | David North | 2000 | Casual vacancy by resignation of the President of Tynwald | Charles Kerruish | }}{{ubl | Noel Cringle (elected) |
---|
1998 | Appointment of Attorney General, following promotion to First Deemster | Mike Kerruish QC | John Corlett QC |
---|
1998 | Scheduled election | {{ubl | Brian Barton | Clare Christian | Edmund Lowey | Arthur Luft | }}{{ubl | Clare Christian (elected) | Alan Crowe (elected) | Ray Kniveton (elected) | Edmund Lowey (elected) |
---|
{{ubl | Charles Cain | Andrew Douglas | Adrian Duggan | Robert Quayle | Richard Radcliffe | 1995 | Scheduled election | {{ubl | Arnold Callin | Edward Clifford Irving | Norman Radcliffe | George Waft | }}{{ubl | Dominic Delaney (elected) | Edgar Mann (elected) | Norman Radcliffe (elected) | George Waft (elected) |
---|
{{ubl | Other nominations unknown | 1994 | Casual vacancy by death | W K Quirk | }}{{ubl | George Waft (elected) |
---|
{{ubl | Other nominations unknown | 1993 | Scheduled election | {{ubl | Ian Anderson | Brian Barton | Edmund Lowey | Arthur Luft | }}{{ubl | Brian Barton, 15 votes (elected) | Clare Christian, 17 votes (elected) | Edmund Lowey, 14 votes (elected) | Arthur Luft, 16 votes (elected) |
---|
{{ubl | Norman Butler, 7 votes | J A S Christian, 8 votes | Charles Cain, 6 votes | R B M Quayle, 8 votes | R Rawcliffe, 5 votes | 1990 | Scheduled election | {{ubl | Mr Callin | Mr Irving | Mr Quirk | Mr Radcliffe | }}{{ubl | Arnold Callin (elected) | Edward Clifford Irving (elected) | Norman Radcliffe (elected) | W K Quirk (elected) |
---|
{{ubl | John Callister Clucas | Dominic Delaney | A C Duggan | David Moore |
Past membership Name | Position | Tenure | Replacing |
---|
Robert Paterson | Bishop of Sodor and Man | 2008–2016 | Graeme Paul Knowles | Stephen Harding QC | Attorney General | 2011–2013 | John Corlett | Alan Crowe | Elected member | 1998–2002 | Brian Barton | Elected member | 2007–2015 | Leonard Singer | Dudley Butt | Elected member | 2005–2015 | Dominic Delaney | Alex Downie | Elected member | 2005–2015 | Ray Kniveton | Phil Braidwood | Elected member | 2010–2015 | George Waft | Tony Wild | Elected member | 2011–2017 | Clare Christian | David Callister | Elected member | 2008–2013 | Pam Crowe | Edmund Lowey | Elected member | 1982–2013 | George Swales | Leonard Singer | Elected member | 2003–2006 | Alan Crowe | Arthur Christian Luft | Attorney General | 1972–1974 | Lay | Elected member | 1988–1998 | Ian Anderson | John William Corrin | Attorney General | 1974–1980 | Arthur Luft | Thomas William Cain QC | Attorney General | 1980–1993 | Jack Corrin | Michael Kerruish QC | Attorney General | 1993–1998 | William Cain | John Corlett QC | Attorney General | 1998–2011 | Michael Kerruish | Graeme Knowles | Bishop of Sodor and Man | 2003–2008 | Noël Jones | Donald Gelling | Elected member | 2002–2007 | Norman Radcliffe | Clifford Irving | Elected member | 1987–1995 | Matty Ward | Noel Cringle | President of Tynwald | 2000–2011 | Sir Charles Kerruish | Sir Charles Kerruish | President of Tynwald | 1990–2000 | Ian Anderson | Ian Anderson | Elected member | 1982–1988 | Geoff Crellin | President of the Legislative Council | 1988–1990 | Jack Nivison | Elected member | 1990–1993 | New position, 8th elected member}} | Jack Nivison | Elected member | 1962–1980 | Alfred Teare | President of the Legislative Council | 1980–1988 | New position}} | The Venerable J. Kewley | Archdeacon | 1912–1919 | {{unk}} | Cyril Hughes-Games | Vicar General | 1906–1919 | {{unk}} | Joseph Qualtrough | Elected member | 1919–1933 | New position}} | Joseph Cunningham | Elected member | 1919–1924 | New position}} | R C Cain | Elected member | reason=Dates concurrent with member being replaced.|date=December 2018}} | Joseph Cunningham | John Robert Kerruish | Elected member | 1919–1924 | New position}} | William Southward | Elected member | 1919–1943 | New position}} | George Drinkwater | Appointee of Lieutenant Governor | 1919–1920 | New position}} | Richard Barton Quirk | Appointee of Lieutenant Governor | 1919–1942 | New position}} | Sir John Bolton | Appointed member | 1962–1970 | John Crellin | Elected member | 1971–1979 | Henry Nicholls | G C Gale | Elected member | 1964–1966 | Ewan Farrant | Ffinlo Corkill | Elected member | 1966–1974 | G C Gale | Major Geoffrey Crellin | Elected member | 1975–1982 | New position}} | Norman Crowe OBE JP | Elected member | 1970–1978 | Cecil McFee | Captain John Crellin OBE MC JP | Appointed member | 1943–1962 | Daniel Teare | Betty Hanson | Elected member | 1982–1988 | Alfred Simcocks MBE | Robert Kerruish | Elected member | 1970–1985 | {{unk}} | Victor Kneale | Elected member | 1974–1981 | Hubert Radcliffe | Roy MacDonald | Elected member | 1978–1985 | Norman Crowe | Cecil McFee | {{unk}} | 1962–1971 | {{unk}} | Alec Moore | Elected member | 1979–1985 | William E Quayle | Henry Nicholls | Elected member | 1958–1970 | Joseph Callister | William E Quayle | Elected member | 1970–1978 | New position}} | Willy Quirk | Elected member | 1987–1993 | Dr Edgar Mann | Norman Radcliffe | Elected member | 1985–2002 | Roy MacDonald | Percy Radcliffe | Elected member | 1980–1985 | Sir John Bolton | Alfred Simcocks MBE | Elected member | 1974–1982 | Ffinlo Corkhill | George Swales | Elected member | 1982–1982 | Victor Kneale | Matthew Ward | Elected member | 1985–1987 | Alec Moore | Arthur Attwell | Bishop of Sodor and Man | 1983–1988 | Vernon Nicholls | Noël Jones | Bishop of Sodor and Man | 1989–2003 | Arthur Attwell | Vernon Nicholls | Bishop of Sodor and Man | 1973–1983 | {{unk}} | George Moore | First Deemster | 1969–1974 | {{unk}} | Sir Ralph Stevenson GCMG CP JP | Appointed member | 1955–1970 | {{unk}} | William Watson Christian | {{unk}} | 1848–1867 | {{unk}} | The Rev. William Christian | {{unk}} | 1883–1887 | {{unk}} | William Quirk | {{unk}} | 1887–1893 | {{unk}} | William Anderson | Receiver General | 1894–1909 | {{unk}} | John Cowell | Receiver General | 1909–1919 | William Anderson | John Goldie-Taubman | Appointed member | 1921–1924 | George Drinkwater | Edward Callister | Elected member | 1921–1931 | John Robert Kerruish | John Clucas | Appointed member | 1924–1928 | John Goldie-Taubman | Frank Dagleish | Elected member | 1931–1946 | Edward Callister | Charles Gill | Elected member | 1934–1954 | Arthur Crookall | Arthur Crookall | Elected member | 1934–1935 | Joseph Qualtrough | Joseph Callister | Elected member | 1946–1958 | {{unk}} | Ewan Farrant | Elected member | 1954–1964 | {{unk}} | Hubert Radcliffe | {{unk}} | 1963–1974 | {{unk}} |
Historical compositionOriginalThe original function of the Legislative Council was executive (i.e. giving advice to the Lieutenant Governor) and its membership was entirely appointed, as follows: - Lieutenant Governor
- First Deemster
- Second Deemster
- Clerk of the Rolls
- Attorney General
- Receiver General
- Water Bailiff
- Bishop of Sodor and Man
- Archdeacon of Sodor and Man
- Vicar General of Sodor and Man
The first seven were Crown appointments and the last two appointments by the Bishop. Reforms were slowly made to reduce the number of judicial and religious appointments and these members were slowly replaced by indirectly elected members. 1917 reformIn 1917, the Judicature (Amendment) Act introduced by the Legislative Council removed Clerk of the Rolls from the composition of the Council. It then consisted of the following members: - Lieutenant Governor
- First Deemster
- Second Deemster
- Attorney General
- Receiver General
- Water Bailiff
- Bishop of Sodor and Man
- Archdeacon of Sodor and Man
- Vicar General of Sodor and Man
The above 1917 Act abolished the Clerk of the Rolls as a separate office-holder. The role was taken on by the First Deemster. There is no obvious evidence that a Water Bailiff was a member of the Council in the years leading up to or following 1917, and that office may have been abolished some time previously. It is possible that, by 1872, the office of Water Bailiff may have been combined with that of Receiver General.[8] 1919 reformIn 1919, The Archdeacon; the Vicar General; and the Receiver General were removed as ex officio members of the Council by the Isle of Man Constitution Amendment Act 1919. The members were thus: - Lieutenant Governor
- First Deemster
- Second Deemster
- Attorney General
- Bishop of Sodor and Man
- Two members appointed by the Lieutenant Governor
- Four members elected by the House of Keys
1961 reformReplaced an appointed member by an elected member. 1965 reformThe Second Deemster lost his seat in the Council. The members were thus: - Lieutenant Governor
- First Deemster
- Attorney General
- Bishop of Sodor and Man
- Two members appointed by the Lieutenant Governor
- Five members elected by the House of Keys
1969 reformThe Isle of Man Constitution Act 1969 removed the two appointed members of the Legislative Council. The members were thus:[9] - Lieutenant Governor
- First Deemster
- Attorney General
- Bishop of Sodor and Man
- Seven members elected by the House of Keys
1975 reformThe First Deemster lost his seat in the Council, by virtue of the Isle of Man Constitution (Amendment) Act 1975. The members were thus: - Lieutenant Governor
- Attorney General
- Bishop of Sodor and Man
- Eight members elected by the House of Keys
1980 reformThe Lieutenant Governor was removed as Presiding Officer and replaced by an indirectly elected President of the Legislative Council. The Governor still presided at joint sittings of Tynwald. The members were thus: - President of the Legislative Council
- Attorney General
- Bishop of Sodor and Man
- Seven members elected by the House of Keys
References1. ^https://www.manxradio.com/news/isle-of-man-news/sunset-clauses-back-in-legco/ 2. ^http://www.manxradio.com/news/manx-gaelic/speaker-denies-voting-system-lacks-principle1/ 3. ^https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiDvBZCPQOQ 4. ^http://www.tynwald.org.im/business/bills/Pages/2016-2021.aspx 5. ^http://www.tynwald.org.im/links/tls/TC/Pages/C7.aspx#C7b 6. ^[https://www.gov.im/about-the-government/departments/cabinet-office/review-of-the-functioning-of-tynwald/ Review of the Functioning of Tynwald], Isle of Man Government, 19 July 2016 7. ^{{cite hansard | jurisdiction=Isle of Man | house=House of Keys | date=12 March 2018 | title=12 March 2018 House of Keys Hansard | volume=134 | series=14 | pages=699–708 | url=http://www.tynwald.org.im/business/hansard/20002020/k180312.pdf | format=pdf}} 8. ^http://scans.library.utoronto.ca/pdf/1/38/manxmiscellanies20douguoft/manxmiscellanies20douguoft.pdf] suggests 9. ^
{{National upper houses}}{{coord|54|09|03|N|4|28|56|W|display=title|region:IM_type:landmark}} 4 : Government of the Isle of Man|Politics of the Isle of Man|National upper houses|Tynwald |