Three new faces secure Legislative Council seats

A total of 15 candidates were in contention for the available spaces on the council

Three new members have been elected to sit on the upper chamber of the Manx parliament for the next five years.

Chairman of the Isle of Man Skills Board Peter Reid, businessman Gary Clueit and youth social worker Kirstie Morphet will serve on the Legislative Council until 2030.

Rob Mercer successfully secured a second term on the council after MHKs voted in support of the candidates they wanted to see take up the four available seats.

The vote saw two other previous incumbents, Kerry Sharpe and Bill Henderson, fail to secure re-election to as MLCs.

The election took place in the House of Keys chamber

While much of the Legislative Council's work involves scrutinising new legislation in its own chamber, MLCs also take part in the monthly parliament sittings and can serve on government departments and scrutiny committees.

The latest poll, which took place in the House of Keys chamber, saw MHKs asked to vote on each of the 15 candidates, with those receiving a majority from the members present elected.

Mercer and Reid topped the poll, gaining the support of 19 members of the House of Keys, with Clueit receiving 13 votes in the the first round of voting.

Morphet secured her place on the Council after a second round, in which she received 15 votes.

Members of the House of Keys were asked to vote for their preferred candidates

The eight MLCs are elected in two tranches of four seats in different years to maintain and element of continuity within the Council.

The successful candidates will earn a basic annual salary of £71,659.

Since 1998 Henderson has served as both an MHK and and MLC, having sat on the upper council for the last three terms.

Sharpe, who was also Children's Champion for Tynwald, has served on the council since 2018, and topped the poll in the 2020 election.