Isle of Man's Bishop Plea to Retain Vote in Tynwald
The Bishop of Sodor and Man made a final plea to keep her right to vote in Tynwald.
I have taken this role and responsibility seriously
Despite this, members of the Legislative Council voted 5 to 3 in favour of removing her voting powers through Clause 3 of the Isle of Man Constitution Bill 2023.
- The change will only take effect at the end of the current Bishop’s tenure due to an amendment by Gary Clueit MLC.
- The Legislative Council voted against suspending standing orders to take the Bill’s Final Stage, allowing for further debate.
- Mr Clueit’s amendment will be referred back to the House of Keys for consideration.
The private member’s bill was introduced by Ramsey MHK Lawrie Hooper in November 2023.
Author's summary: Bishop's voting rights in Tynwald are under threat.