Isle of Man general election: 63 candidates to stand

It will be the first Manx general election using the new boundary guidelines approved in 2013

Sixty-three candidates will contest the 2016 House of Keys general election on the Isle of Man, the Manx government has confirmed.

The deadline for those looking to stand closed on Wednesday and, after a short period for objections was observed, 50 men and 13 women were officially confirmed as candidates.

The 22 September poll will see 24 Members of the House of Keys (MHKs) elected for a term of five years.

Voters must register by 1 September.

The island is almost entirely self-governing, and the 24 successful representatives will control virtually every aspect of public life, from law and order to health provision.

Douglas East has received the most candidates - eight - while Glenfaba and Peel had the fewest - three.

The new MHKs will be sworn in to the House of Keys on 27 September.

A new chief minister will then be elected by Tynwald on 4 October.

Current chief minister Alan Bell, who has been Ramsey MHK for 32 years, announced in July that he would be retiring from Manx politics.