Bid to remove bishop's vote from Tynwald advances

Members of the House of Keys voted to progress the private members' bill

A bid to remove the bishop's vote from Tynwald has passed its second reading in the House of Keys.

The private members' bill has been brought forward by Ramsey MHK Lawrie Hooper.

Some members against the move said a public consultation should have been carried out before reaching this stage.

However, Mr Hooper said the bill was following through on his manifesto promises.

The Bishop of Sodor and Man automatically holds a seat in the Legislative Council and has voting rights in Tynwald, but several attempts to remove the rights have been made in the past.

Most recently a bid to oust the role failed in June.

The bishop, Right Reverend Peter Eagles, retired earlier this year and the search for his successor is under way.

During the latest debate in the House of Keys, Douglas South MHK Clare Christian called to retain the bishop’s vote.

She said removing it could “disenfranchise” members of the community, who may feel “unheard and disregarded”.

'Mischief'

However Clare Barber said, as a Christian herself, she would not feel this way, adding that there were more faiths beyond Christianity unrepresented in the island's parliament.

Both Ms Christian and Tim Glover, MHK for Arbory, Castletown and Malew, said there should have been a public consultation.

However, those in support of the bill, such as Ayre and Michael MHK Tim Johston, said it did not seek to "distinguish the voice" of the bishop, who would still take part in debates.

Douglas Central MHK Chris Thomas, who opposes the bill, accused Mr Hooper of "mischief" by bringing it forward during a time when there was no bishop in post.

Mr Hooper said there was "absolutely nothing opportunistic" about the timing of the bill, and proceedings had not been hindered by the current lack of a bishop.