Sixteen candidates for Legislative Council seats

The election to fill four seats on the Legislative Council takes place on 4 March

Sixteen candidates have secured enough support to stand for election to the Isle of Man's Legislative Council, the Clerk of Tynwald's Office has confirmed.

Those who wanted to contest the poll on 4 March to serve in the upper chamber had until midday to get the backing of at least four members of the House of Keys.

Four seats will be available when the current term of office for Peter Greenhill, Bill Henderson, Rob Mercer and Kerry Sharpe comes to an end on 28 February.

The Legislative Council is predominantly seen as a revising chamber for proposed new laws and MLCs are elected by MHKs.

Each candidate needed the backing of a proposer, a seconder and two other members to have their names put forward for the poll.

The confirmed candidates

Listed in alphabetical order by surname:

• Julia Bell - Proposed by Rob Callister, seconded by Ann Corlett, and supported by Tim Glover and Jason Moorhouse

• Ronald Paul Berry - Proposed by Claire Christian, seconded by Jason Moorhouse, supported by Alex Allinson and Tim Johnston

• Barry William Carbis - Proposed by Ann Corlett, seconded by Michelle Haywood, supported by Jason Moorhouse and Tim Johnston

• Mark Jason Cleator - Proposed by Stu Peters , seconded by John Wannenburgh, supported by David Ashford and Rob Callister

• Gary Raymond Clueit - Proposed by David Ashford, seconded by Michelle Haywood, supported by Lawrie Hoope rand Alex Allinson

• Barry Duncan - Proposed by Tim Glover, seconded by Andrew Smith, supported by Clare Barber and Jason Moorhouse

• Matthew Paul Gough - Proposed by Clare Barber, seconded by Jane Poole-Wilson, supported by Tim Crookall and Claire Christian

• Robert William Henderson - Proposed by David Ashford MHK, seconded by John Wannenburgh, supported by Ann Corlett and Kate Lord-Brennan

• Brian Holt - Proposed by Claire Christian, seconded by Michelle Haywood, supported by Stu Peters and Tim Glover

• Andrew Stuart Jones - Proposed by John Wannenburgh, seconded by Jane Poole-Wilson, supported by Stu Peters and Daphne Caine

• Robert John Mercer - Proposed by Kate Lord-Brennan, seconded by Hon Daphne Caine, supported by Jane Poole-Wilson and Tim Johnston

• Kirstie Morphet - Proposed by Rob Callister, seconded by Alex Allinson, supported by Tim Glover and Joney Faragher

• Claire Louise Newall - Proposed by Alex Allinson, seconded by Ann Corlett, supported by Sarah Maltby and Joney Faragher

• Martyn John Perkins - Proposed by Clare Barber, seconded by Daphne Caine, supported by Lawrie Hooper and Kate Lord-Brennan

• Peter Hemingway Reid - Proposed by John Wannenburgh, seconded by Andrew Smith, supported by Clare Barber and Jane Poole-Wilson

• Kerry Sharpe - Proposed by Rob Callister, seconded by David Ashford, supported by Daphne Caine and Kate Lord-Brennan

The poll is the first to be run after a raft of changes to the application process was approved by Tynwald.

Under those changes, those interested in serving had to submit a formal application by 9 January, before being given five weeks to secure support from MHKs.

The four successful candidates will take part in sittings of the Manx parliament

The Legislative Council is made up of eight members, along with the President of Tynwald and the Lord Bishop of Sodor and Man, with the Attorney General attending sittings in a non-voting capacity.

While much of its work involves the scrutinising of new legislation in its own chamber, MLCs also take part in the monthly Tynwald sittings and can be appointed members of government departments and parliamentary committees.

Elections to the council take place in two tranches of four seats, with members paid a basic annual salary of £71,659 during their five-year term.

The term of office for the successful candidates in the latest election will last until 28 February 2030.