New deputy speaker elected for House of Keys

Ann Corlett has been elected after the post previously held by Daphne Caine became vacant

Ann Corlett has been appointed the new deputy speaker for the House of Keys.

The Douglas Central MHK was elected unopposed to the position of Deputy Speaker by MHKs.

The post became vacant after Mrs Corlett’s predecessor Daphne Caine was appointed Minister for the Department of Education, Sport and Culture last week.

She was nominated for the position by Douglas North MHK David Ashford, who said she brought with her “the experience and expertise necessary for the role”, and seconded by Mrs Caine.

The deputy speaker is elected by the members to serve as the presiding officer in the absence of the speaker.

Mrs Corlett served as a member of Douglas Council for three years before first being elected to the House of Keys in 2016.

'Confidence'

A former political member for the health and education departments, Mrs Corlett is currently a member of the Department for Enterprise, chairman of the Social Affairs Policy Review Committee, vice-chairman of the Housing and Communities Board and a member of the Public Accounts Committee.

She is also a member of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Isle of Man Branch Executive Committee, the Communications and Utilities Regulatory Authority, and the newly created Select Committee to Review the Sea Services Agreement & the Shareholder Status of the Treasury.

Mrs Corlett thanked her political colleagues for their support and for "showing their confidence in me to do the role”.

“In return I would like to promise that I will do my best to fulfil it,” she added.

It was confirmed she will preside over her first sitting of the House of Keys on 12 March, when Juan Watterson SHK will be off the island on parliamentary business.