Politics of the Isle of Man
Encyclopedia
The government of the Isle of Man
is a parliamentary
representative democracy
. As a Crown Dependency
, it is not subordinate to the government of the United Kingdom. That government, however, is responsible for defence and external affairs and could intervene in the domestic affairs of the isle under its residual responsibilities to guarantee "good government" in all Crown Dependencies. The Monarch of the United Kingdom
is also the head of state
of the Isle of Man, and generally referred to as The Queen, Lord of Mann
. Legislation of the Isle of Man defines "the Crown
in right of the Isle of Man" as being separate from the "Crown in right of the United Kingdom". Her representative on the isle is the Lieutenant Governor of the Isle of Man
, but his role is mostly ceremonial, though he does have the power to grant Royal Assent
(the withholding of which is the same as a veto
).
Although the Isle of Man
is not an integral part of the United Kingdom
, its people
are British citizens under UK law - there is no separate Manx
citizenship. The United Kingdom has responsibility for all the island's external affairs
, including citizenship, the isle's defence, good governance
, and foreign relations. The isle has no representation at either the UK
or EU
parliament
s.
The legislative power of the government is vested in a bicameral parliament called Tynwald
(said to be the world's oldest continuously existing parliament), which consists of the directly elected House of Keys
and the indirectly chosen Legislative Council
. Following every House of Keys general election
, the members of Tynwald elect from amongst themselves the Chief Minister of the Isle of Man
, who serves as the head of government
for five years (until the next general election). Executive power
is vested in the Lieutenant Governor (as Governor-in-Council), the Chief Minister, and the Isle of Man's Council of Ministers
. The judiciary
is independent of the executive and the legislature.
Douglas
, the largest town on the Isle of Man is its capital and seat of government, where the Government offices and the parliament chambers (Tynwald
) are located.
is the Lord of Mann
, which is a hereditary position held by the British monarch
(currently Queen Elizabeth II
). The Lieutenant Governor
is appointed by the Queen, on the advice of the UK's Secretary of State for Justice, for a five-year term and nominally exercises executive power on behalf of the Queen. The Chief Minister
is elected by Tynwald
following every House of Keys general election and serves for five years until the next general election
.
When acting as Lord of Mann, the Queen acts on the advice of the Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor of the United Kingdom having prime responsibility as Privy Counsellor for Manx affairs.
The executive branch under the Chief Minister is referred to as "the government" or the "Civil Service", and consists of the Council of Ministers
, nine Departments, ten Statutory Boards and three Offices. Each Department is run by a minister (of the Council of Ministers), who reports directly to the Council of Ministers. The Civil Service has more than 2000 employees and the total number of public sector employees including the Civil Service, teachers, nurses, police, etc. is about 9000 people. This is somewhat more than 10% of the population of the Island, and a full 23% of the working population. This does not include any military
forces, as defence is the responsibility of the United Kingdom
.
is Tynwald
, which consists of two chambers
. The House of Keys
has 24 members, elected for a five year term in multi- and single-seat constituencies
by the whole island. The Legislative Council
has eleven members, the President of Tynwald
, Bishop of Sodor and Man
, the Attorney General
and eight other members who are elected from the general population (often they are already Members of the House of Keys, but must leave the Keys if selected) by the House of Keys for a five year term. The voting age is 16.
won three seats, up one since the last election
, the remaining seats were won by independents. Three ministers lost their seats Anne Craine, Martyn Quayle
, and Adrian Earnshaw
as well as the former vice chairman of the Liberal Vannin Party
Bill Malarkey. Voter turnout dropped from 64% to 54%.
Most Manx politicians stand for election as independents rather than as representatives of political parties. Though political parties do exist, their influence is not nearly as strong as is the case in the United Kingdom. Consequently, much Manx legislation develops through consensus among the members of Tynwald, which contrasts with the much more adversarial nature of the UK parliament
.
The largest political party is the recently established Liberal Vannin Party
, which promotes greater Manx independence and more accountability in Government. In the 2011 Manx general election won three seats in Tynwald including Leader Peter Karran
MHK
.
A Manx Labour Party
also exists, unaffiliated to the UK's Labour Party
.
A political pressure group Mec Vannin
advocates the establishment of a sovereign
republic
.
The island also formerly had a Manx National Party
and a Manx Communist Party
. There are Manx members in the Celtic League
, a political pressure group that advocates greater co-operation between and political autonomy for the Celtic
nations.
The main political issues include the Island's relationship with the finance sector, housing prices and shortages, and the Manx language
.
The vast majority of the members of the House of Keys
are non-partisan (19), with two representatives from the Manx Labour Party and three from the Alliance for Progressive Government
.
Occasionally, the UK Parliament acts against the wishes of Tynwald – the most recent example being the Marine etc. Broadcasting (Offences) Act 1967, which banned pirate radio stations from operating in Manx waters. Legislation to accomplish this was defeated on its second reading in Tynwald, prompting Westminster to legislate directly.
The UK's secondary legislation (regulations and Statutory Instruments) cannot be extended to apply to the Isle of Man.
The Isle of Man is subject to certain European Union laws, by virtue of a being a territory for which the UK has responsibility in international law. These laws are those for areas not covered by the Protocol 3 opt-out that the UK included for the Isle of Man in its accession treaty – the areas excluded being free movement of persons, services and capital, and taxation and social policy harmonisation.
The Isle of Man has had several disputes with the European Court of Human Rights
because it was late to change its laws concerning birching
(corporal punishment) and sodomy
.
are presided over by the High Bailiff
and the Deputy High Bailiff
, along with lay Justices of the Peace
. The High Court of Justice
consists of three civil divisions and is presided over by a Deemster
. Appeals are dealt with by the Staff of Government Division
with final appeal to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council
in the United Kingdom
. The head of the Judiciary is the First Deemster and Clerk of the Rolls
. The other High and Appeal Court Judges are the Second Deemster
, Deputy Deemster
and Judge of Appeal
, all of whom are appointed by the Lieutenant Governor
.
The Court of General Gaol Delivery is the criminal court for serious offences (effectively the equivalent of a Crown Court
in England). It is theoretically not part of the High Court, but is effectively the criminal division of the court. The Second Deemster normally sits as the judge in this court. In 1992, His Honour Deemster Callow
passed the last-ever sentence of death in a court in the British Islands
(which was commuted to life imprisonment). Capital punishment in the Isle of Man
was formally abolished by Tynwald
in 1993 (although the last execution on the island took place in 1872).
Isle of Man
The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...
is a parliamentary
Parliamentary system
A parliamentary system is a system of government in which the ministers of the executive branch get their democratic legitimacy from the legislature and are accountable to that body, such that the executive and legislative branches are intertwined....
representative democracy
Representative democracy
Representative democracy is a form of government founded on the principle of elected individuals representing the people, as opposed to autocracy and direct democracy...
. As a Crown Dependency
Crown dependency
The Crown Dependencies are British possessions of the Crown, as opposed to overseas territories of the United Kingdom. They comprise the Channel Island Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey in the English Channel, and the Isle of Man in the Irish Sea....
, it is not subordinate to the government of the United Kingdom. That government, however, is responsible for defence and external affairs and could intervene in the domestic affairs of the isle under its residual responsibilities to guarantee "good government" in all Crown Dependencies. The Monarch of the United Kingdom
Monarchy of the United Kingdom
The monarchy of the United Kingdom is the constitutional monarchy of the United Kingdom and its overseas territories. The present monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, has reigned since 6 February 1952. She and her immediate family undertake various official, ceremonial and representational duties...
is also the head of state
Head of State
A head of state is the individual that serves as the chief public representative of a monarchy, republic, federation, commonwealth or other kind of state. His or her role generally includes legitimizing the state and exercising the political powers, functions, and duties granted to the head of...
of the Isle of Man, and generally referred to as The Queen, Lord of Mann
Lord of Mann
The title Lord of Mann is used on the Isle of Man to refer to Queen Elizabeth II, who is the island's Lord Proprietor and head of state.-Relationship with the Crown:The title is not correctly used on its own...
. Legislation of the Isle of Man defines "the Crown
The Crown
The Crown is a corporation sole that in the Commonwealth realms and any provincial or state sub-divisions thereof represents the legal embodiment of governance, whether executive, legislative, or judicial...
in right of the Isle of Man" as being separate from the "Crown in right of the United Kingdom". Her representative on the isle is the Lieutenant Governor of the Isle of Man
Lieutenant Governor of the Isle of Man
The Lieutenant Governor is the representative on the Isle of Man of the Lord of Mann . He/she has the power to grant Royal Assent and is styled His Excellency. In recent times the Governor has either been a retired diplomat or senior military officer...
, but his role is mostly ceremonial, though he does have the power to grant Royal Assent
Royal Assent
The granting of royal assent refers to the method by which any constitutional monarch formally approves and promulgates an act of his or her nation's parliament, thus making it a law...
(the withholding of which is the same as a veto
Veto
A veto, Latin for "I forbid", is the power of an officer of the state to unilaterally stop an official action, especially enactment of a piece of legislation...
).
Although the Isle of Man
Isle of Man
The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...
is not an integral part of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, its people
Manx people
The Manx are an ethnic group coming from the Isle of Man in the Irish Sea in northern Europe. They are often described as a Celtic people, though they have had a mixed background including Norse and English influences....
are British citizens under UK law - there is no separate Manx
Manx people
The Manx are an ethnic group coming from the Isle of Man in the Irish Sea in northern Europe. They are often described as a Celtic people, though they have had a mixed background including Norse and English influences....
citizenship. The United Kingdom has responsibility for all the island's external affairs
External relations of the Isle of Man
Under British law, the Isle of Man is a Crown dependency and not an integral part of the United Kingdom.However, the UK takes care of its external and defence affairs, and retains paramount power to legislate for the Island.-Citizenship:...
, including citizenship, the isle's defence, good governance
Good governance
Good governance is an indeterminate term used in development literature to describe how public institutions conduct public affairs and manage public resources in order to guarantee the realization of human rights. Governance describes "the process of decision-making and the process by which...
, and foreign relations. The isle has no representation at either the UK
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
or EU
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
parliament
Parliament
A parliament is a legislature, especially in those countries whose system of government is based on the Westminster system modeled after that of the United Kingdom. The name is derived from the French , the action of parler : a parlement is a discussion. The term came to mean a meeting at which...
s.
The legislative power of the government is vested in a bicameral parliament called Tynwald
Tynwald
The Tynwald , or more formally, the High Court of Tynwald is the legislature of the Isle of Man. It is claimed to be the oldest continuous parliamentary body in the world, consisting of the directly elected House of Keys and the indirectly chosen Legislative Council.The Houses sit jointly, for...
(said to be the world's oldest continuously existing parliament), which consists of the directly elected House of Keys
House of Keys
The House of Keys is the directly elected lower branch of Tynwald, the parliament of the Isle of Man, the other branch being the Legislative Council....
and the indirectly chosen Legislative Council
Legislative Council of the Isle of Man
The Legislative Council is the upper chamber of Tynwald, the legislature of the Isle of Man.It consists of eleven Members —*eight elected members, known as Members of the Legislative Council or MLCs*three ex officio members:...
. Following every House of Keys general election
General election
In a parliamentary political system, a general election is an election in which all or most members of a given political body are chosen. The term is usually used to refer to elections held for a nation's primary legislative body, as distinguished from by-elections and local elections.The term...
, the members of Tynwald elect from amongst themselves the Chief Minister of the Isle of Man
Chief Minister of the Isle of Man
The Chief Minister is the executive head of the Isle of Man Government.The office derives from that of Chairman of the Executive Council. Before 1980 the Executive Council was chaired by the Lieutenant Governor, but thereafter the chairman was elected by Tynwald, the parliament of the Isle of Man...
, who serves as the head of government
Head of government
Head of government is the chief officer of the executive branch of a government, often presiding over a cabinet. In a parliamentary system, the head of government is often styled prime minister, chief minister, premier, etc...
for five years (until the next general election). Executive power
Executive Power
Executive Power is Vince Flynn's fifth novel, and the fourth to feature Mitch Rapp, an American agent that works for the CIA as an operative for a covert counter terrorism unit called the "Orion Team."-Plot summary:...
is vested in the Lieutenant Governor (as Governor-in-Council), the Chief Minister, and the Isle of Man's Council of Ministers
Council of Ministers of the Isle of Man
The Council of Ministers ) is the principal executive organ of the Isle of Man Government. Its role is similar to, though not identical with, that of the Cabinet in the United Kingdom...
. The judiciary
Judiciary
The judiciary is the system of courts that interprets and applies the law in the name of the state. The judiciary also provides a mechanism for the resolution of disputes...
is independent of the executive and the legislature.
Douglas
Douglas, Isle of Man
right|thumb|250px|Douglas Promenade, which runs nearly the entire length of beachfront in Douglasright|thumb|250px|Sea terminal in DouglasDouglas is the capital and largest town of the Isle of Man, with a population of 26,218 people . It is located at the mouth of the River Douglas, and a sweeping...
, the largest town on the Isle of Man is its capital and seat of government, where the Government offices and the parliament chambers (Tynwald
Tynwald
The Tynwald , or more formally, the High Court of Tynwald is the legislature of the Isle of Man. It is claimed to be the oldest continuous parliamentary body in the world, consisting of the directly elected House of Keys and the indirectly chosen Legislative Council.The Houses sit jointly, for...
) are located.
Executive branch
The Head of StateHead of State
A head of state is the individual that serves as the chief public representative of a monarchy, republic, federation, commonwealth or other kind of state. His or her role generally includes legitimizing the state and exercising the political powers, functions, and duties granted to the head of...
is the Lord of Mann
Lord of Mann
The title Lord of Mann is used on the Isle of Man to refer to Queen Elizabeth II, who is the island's Lord Proprietor and head of state.-Relationship with the Crown:The title is not correctly used on its own...
, which is a hereditary position held by the British monarch
British monarchy
The monarchy of the United Kingdom is the constitutional monarchy of the United Kingdom and its overseas territories. The present monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, has reigned since 6 February 1952. She and her immediate family undertake various official, ceremonial and representational duties...
(currently Queen Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
). The Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant Governor of the Isle of Man
The Lieutenant Governor is the representative on the Isle of Man of the Lord of Mann . He/she has the power to grant Royal Assent and is styled His Excellency. In recent times the Governor has either been a retired diplomat or senior military officer...
is appointed by the Queen, on the advice of the UK's Secretary of State for Justice, for a five-year term and nominally exercises executive power on behalf of the Queen. The Chief Minister
Chief Minister of the Isle of Man
The Chief Minister is the executive head of the Isle of Man Government.The office derives from that of Chairman of the Executive Council. Before 1980 the Executive Council was chaired by the Lieutenant Governor, but thereafter the chairman was elected by Tynwald, the parliament of the Isle of Man...
is elected by Tynwald
Tynwald
The Tynwald , or more formally, the High Court of Tynwald is the legislature of the Isle of Man. It is claimed to be the oldest continuous parliamentary body in the world, consisting of the directly elected House of Keys and the indirectly chosen Legislative Council.The Houses sit jointly, for...
following every House of Keys general election and serves for five years until the next general election
General election
In a parliamentary political system, a general election is an election in which all or most members of a given political body are chosen. The term is usually used to refer to elections held for a nation's primary legislative body, as distinguished from by-elections and local elections.The term...
.
When acting as Lord of Mann, the Queen acts on the advice of the Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor of the United Kingdom having prime responsibility as Privy Counsellor for Manx affairs.
The executive branch under the Chief Minister is referred to as "the government" or the "Civil Service", and consists of the Council of Ministers
Council of Ministers of the Isle of Man
The Council of Ministers ) is the principal executive organ of the Isle of Man Government. Its role is similar to, though not identical with, that of the Cabinet in the United Kingdom...
, nine Departments, ten Statutory Boards and three Offices. Each Department is run by a minister (of the Council of Ministers), who reports directly to the Council of Ministers. The Civil Service has more than 2000 employees and the total number of public sector employees including the Civil Service, teachers, nurses, police, etc. is about 9000 people. This is somewhat more than 10% of the population of the Island, and a full 23% of the working population. This does not include any military
Military
A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...
forces, as defence is the responsibility of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Legislative branch
The Manx legislatureLegislature
A legislature is a kind of deliberative assembly with the power to pass, amend, and repeal laws. The law created by a legislature is called legislation or statutory law. In addition to enacting laws, legislatures usually have exclusive authority to raise or lower taxes and adopt the budget and...
is Tynwald
Tynwald
The Tynwald , or more formally, the High Court of Tynwald is the legislature of the Isle of Man. It is claimed to be the oldest continuous parliamentary body in the world, consisting of the directly elected House of Keys and the indirectly chosen Legislative Council.The Houses sit jointly, for...
, which consists of two chambers
Bicameralism
In the government, bicameralism is the practice of having two legislative or parliamentary chambers. Thus, a bicameral parliament or bicameral legislature is a legislature which consists of two chambers or houses....
. The House of Keys
House of Keys
The House of Keys is the directly elected lower branch of Tynwald, the parliament of the Isle of Man, the other branch being the Legislative Council....
has 24 members, elected for a five year term in multi- and single-seat constituencies
House of Keys Constituencies
-Current constituencies:These were used for the 1986, 1991, 1996, 2001, 2006 and 2011 General Elections. The current electoral constituencies for the House of Keys are:-1986 changes:...
by the whole island. The Legislative Council
Legislative Council of the Isle of Man
The Legislative Council is the upper chamber of Tynwald, the legislature of the Isle of Man.It consists of eleven Members —*eight elected members, known as Members of the Legislative Council or MLCs*three ex officio members:...
has eleven members, the President of Tynwald
President of Tynwald
The President of Tynwald is the presiding officer at the sittings of Tynwald in Douglas and is elected by the members of Tynwald from amongst their number...
, Bishop of Sodor and Man
Bishop of Sodor and Man
The Bishop of Sodor and Man is the Ordinary of the Diocese of Sodor and Man in the Province of York in the Church of England. The diocese covers the Isle of Man. The see is in the town of Peel where the bishop's seat is located at the Cathedral Church of St German, elevated to cathedral status on 1...
, the Attorney General
Attorney General (Isle of Man)
The Attorney General of the Isle of Man has an ex officio seat in the Legislative Council and is the Government's top legal adviser.The Attorney General is a Crown officer, rather than a member of the Isle of Man Government...
and eight other members who are elected from the general population (often they are already Members of the House of Keys, but must leave the Keys if selected) by the House of Keys for a five year term. The voting age is 16.
Political parties and elections
In the 2011 Manx general election, of 29 September, the Liberal Vannin PartyLiberal Vannin Party
The Liberal Vannin Party is a political party on the Isle of Man. It was founded in 2006 by Onchan MHK Peter Karran. The Liberal Vannin Party put forward several candidates at the 2006 general election, and campaigns on a platform of greater accountability and openness in government.-2006...
won three seats, up one since the last election
Manx general election, 2006
A general election was held on Thursday, 23 November 2006 on the Isle of Man. The voting age had been lowered to sixteen at this election. As usual, the election was dominated by independents, who took 21 of the 24 seats.- Background :...
, the remaining seats were won by independents. Three ministers lost their seats Anne Craine, Martyn Quayle
Martyn Quayle
George Martyn Quayle, MHK was a Manx politician who previously held the position of Minister of Tourism and Leisure in the Isle of Man Government and represents Middle in the House of Keys. He served as minister of the Department of Social Care....
, and Adrian Earnshaw
Adrian Earnshaw
Adrian John Earnshaw MHK is a Manx politician, who was the Minister of Home Affairs in the Isle of Man Government and a Member of the House of Keys for Onchan.-Early life and career:...
as well as the former vice chairman of the Liberal Vannin Party
Liberal Vannin Party
The Liberal Vannin Party is a political party on the Isle of Man. It was founded in 2006 by Onchan MHK Peter Karran. The Liberal Vannin Party put forward several candidates at the 2006 general election, and campaigns on a platform of greater accountability and openness in government.-2006...
Bill Malarkey. Voter turnout dropped from 64% to 54%.
Most Manx politicians stand for election as independents rather than as representatives of political parties. Though political parties do exist, their influence is not nearly as strong as is the case in the United Kingdom. Consequently, much Manx legislation develops through consensus among the members of Tynwald, which contrasts with the much more adversarial nature of the UK parliament
Parliament
A parliament is a legislature, especially in those countries whose system of government is based on the Westminster system modeled after that of the United Kingdom. The name is derived from the French , the action of parler : a parlement is a discussion. The term came to mean a meeting at which...
.
The largest political party is the recently established Liberal Vannin Party
Liberal Vannin Party
The Liberal Vannin Party is a political party on the Isle of Man. It was founded in 2006 by Onchan MHK Peter Karran. The Liberal Vannin Party put forward several candidates at the 2006 general election, and campaigns on a platform of greater accountability and openness in government.-2006...
, which promotes greater Manx independence and more accountability in Government. In the 2011 Manx general election won three seats in Tynwald including Leader Peter Karran
Peter Karran
Peter Karran MHK is a Manx politician, who is the current Minister of Education and Children, Member of the House of Keys for Onchan and Leader of the Liberal Vannin Party. He was a Manx Labour Party member but left in 2004. In August 2006 he founded the Liberal Vannin Party...
MHK
Member of the House of Keys
Member of the House of Keys, or MHK is the title given to a person who has been elected into the House of Keys, the lower house of Tynwald, the parliament of the Isle of Man. There are twenty-four Members of the House of Keys. Elections are held every five years; the last election took place in...
.
A Manx Labour Party
Manx Labour Party
The Manx Labour Party is a political party operating in the Isle of Man. It is independent of its namesake, the Labour Party in the UK.-History:...
also exists, unaffiliated to the UK's Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
.
A political pressure group Mec Vannin
Mec Vannin
is a political party operating in the Isle of Man. Formed in 1962, it seeks to revoke the status of Man as a British self-governing Crown dependency and establish a completely sovereign state, which would be a republic....
advocates the establishment of a sovereign
Sovereignty
Sovereignty is the quality of having supreme, independent authority over a geographic area, such as a territory. It can be found in a power to rule and make law that rests on a political fact for which no purely legal explanation can be provided...
republic
Republic
A republic is a form of government in which the people, or some significant portion of them, have supreme control over the government and where offices of state are elected or chosen by elected people. In modern times, a common simplified definition of a republic is a government where the head of...
.
The island also formerly had a Manx National Party
Manx National Party
The first Manx National Party was a party that identified itself with the UK Conservatives. They were active in the period between World War I and World War II in opposing the activities of the Manx Labour Party. However, unlike the Manx Labour Party, they were unsuccessful in establishing...
and a Manx Communist Party
Manx Communist Party
The Manx Communist Party was a short lived party of the 1960s in the Isle of Man....
. There are Manx members in the Celtic League
Celtic League (political organisation)
The Celtic League is a non-governmental organisation that promotes self-determination and Celtic identity and culture in Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Brittany, Cornwall and the Isle of Man, known as the Celtic nations. It places particular emphasis on the indigenous Celtic languages...
, a political pressure group that advocates greater co-operation between and political autonomy for the Celtic
Modern Celts
A Celtic identity emerged in the "Celtic" nations of Western Europe, following the identification of the native peoples of the Atlantic fringe as "Celts" by Edward Lhuyd in the 18th century and during the course of the 19th-century Celtic Revival, taking the form of ethnic nationalism particularly...
nations.
The main political issues include the Island's relationship with the finance sector, housing prices and shortages, and the Manx language
Manx language
Manx , also known as Manx Gaelic, and as the Manks language, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, historically spoken by the Manx people. Only a small minority of the Island's population is fluent in the language, but a larger minority has some knowledge of it...
.
The vast majority of the members of the House of Keys
House of Keys
The House of Keys is the directly elected lower branch of Tynwald, the parliament of the Isle of Man, the other branch being the Legislative Council....
are non-partisan (19), with two representatives from the Manx Labour Party and three from the Alliance for Progressive Government
Alliance for Progressive Government
The Alliance for Progressive Government was a political pressure group operating in the Isle of Man.Formed in 1991 was a grouping of members of the House of Keys who wanted to provide a coherent opposition to the Manx government, they were initially called the Alternative Policy Group, before...
.
Intervention of the United Kingdom
The UK Parliament has paramount power to legislate for the Isle of Man on all matters but it is a long-standing convention that it does not do so on domestic ('insular') matters without Tynwald's consent.Occasionally, the UK Parliament acts against the wishes of Tynwald – the most recent example being the Marine etc. Broadcasting (Offences) Act 1967, which banned pirate radio stations from operating in Manx waters. Legislation to accomplish this was defeated on its second reading in Tynwald, prompting Westminster to legislate directly.
The UK's secondary legislation (regulations and Statutory Instruments) cannot be extended to apply to the Isle of Man.
The Isle of Man is subject to certain European Union laws, by virtue of a being a territory for which the UK has responsibility in international law. These laws are those for areas not covered by the Protocol 3 opt-out that the UK included for the Isle of Man in its accession treaty – the areas excluded being free movement of persons, services and capital, and taxation and social policy harmonisation.
The Isle of Man has had several disputes with the European Court of Human Rights
European Court of Human Rights
The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg is a supra-national court established by the European Convention on Human Rights and hears complaints that a contracting state has violated the human rights enshrined in the Convention and its protocols. Complaints can be brought by individuals or...
because it was late to change its laws concerning birching
Birching
Birching is a corporal punishment with a birch rod, typically applied to the recipient's bare buttocks, although occasionally to the back and/or shoulders.-Implement:...
(corporal punishment) and sodomy
Sodomy
Sodomy is an anal or other copulation-like act, especially between male persons or between a man and animal, and one who practices sodomy is a "sodomite"...
.
Judicial branch
The lowest courts in the Isle of ManIsle of Man
The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...
are presided over by the High Bailiff
High Bailiff
In the Isle of Man the High Bailiff is the head stipendiary magistrate.In Vermont, a high bailiff is a county officer.-Isle of Man:The current High Bailiff is His Worship John Needham, who took office on 30 January 2010 on the retirement of Mr Michael Moyle. Mr Needham was previously Clerk to the...
and the Deputy High Bailiff
High Bailiff
In the Isle of Man the High Bailiff is the head stipendiary magistrate.In Vermont, a high bailiff is a county officer.-Isle of Man:The current High Bailiff is His Worship John Needham, who took office on 30 January 2010 on the retirement of Mr Michael Moyle. Mr Needham was previously Clerk to the...
, along with lay Justices of the Peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
. The High Court of Justice
Isle of Man High Court
The High Court of Justice of the Isle of Man is governed by the High Court Act 1991. There are four permanent judges of the High Court:*the First Deemster and Clerk of the Rolls*the Second Deemster*a full time additional Deemster*the Judge of Appeal...
consists of three civil divisions and is presided over by a Deemster
Deemster
A deemster is a judge in the Isle of Man. The High Court of Justice of the Isle of Man is presided over by a deemster or, in the case of the appeal division of that court, a deemster and the Judge of Appeal...
. Appeals are dealt with by the Staff of Government Division
Staff of Government Division
The Staff of Government Division of the High Court of Justice is the Court of Appeal in the Isle of Man. It hears all appeals, both criminal and civil, from the High Court...
with final appeal to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council
Judicial Committee of the Privy Council
The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council is one of the highest courts in the United Kingdom. Established by the Judicial Committee Act 1833 to hear appeals formerly heard by the King in Council The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (JCPC) is one of the highest courts in the United...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. The head of the Judiciary is the First Deemster and Clerk of the Rolls
Deemster
A deemster is a judge in the Isle of Man. The High Court of Justice of the Isle of Man is presided over by a deemster or, in the case of the appeal division of that court, a deemster and the Judge of Appeal...
. The other High and Appeal Court Judges are the Second Deemster
Deemster
A deemster is a judge in the Isle of Man. The High Court of Justice of the Isle of Man is presided over by a deemster or, in the case of the appeal division of that court, a deemster and the Judge of Appeal...
, Deputy Deemster
Deemster
A deemster is a judge in the Isle of Man. The High Court of Justice of the Isle of Man is presided over by a deemster or, in the case of the appeal division of that court, a deemster and the Judge of Appeal...
and Judge of Appeal
Judge of Appeal
The Judge of Appeal is a part time judge in the Isle of Man High Court who only sits in the Staff of Government Division, the appeal court.The position was created by the Judicature Act 1918 which also amalgamated the offices of First Deemster and Clerk of the Rolls...
, all of whom are appointed by the Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant Governor of the Isle of Man
The Lieutenant Governor is the representative on the Isle of Man of the Lord of Mann . He/she has the power to grant Royal Assent and is styled His Excellency. In recent times the Governor has either been a retired diplomat or senior military officer...
.
The Court of General Gaol Delivery is the criminal court for serious offences (effectively the equivalent of a Crown Court
Crown Court
The Crown Court of England and Wales is, together with the High Court of Justice and the Court of Appeal, one of the constituent parts of the Senior Courts of England and Wales...
in England). It is theoretically not part of the High Court, but is effectively the criminal division of the court. The Second Deemster normally sits as the judge in this court. In 1992, His Honour Deemster Callow
Henry Callow
Henry Callow CBE was a former Second Deemster in the Isle of Man.He began his career as a Manx advocate and was then appointed High Bailiff in 1969. After 19 years in the post, he was made Second Deemster until retiring in 1993. In 1994, he was awarded the CBE...
passed the last-ever sentence of death in a court in the British Islands
British Islands
British Islands is a term within the law of the United Kingdom which since 1889 has referred collectively to the following four states:*the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ;...
(which was commuted to life imprisonment). Capital punishment in the Isle of Man
Capital punishment in the Isle of Man
The Isle of Man formally abolished capital punishment in 1993, but in practice had not used it for many decades. The Isle of Man is a British Crown dependency, but not part of the United Kingdom ....
was formally abolished by Tynwald
Tynwald
The Tynwald , or more formally, the High Court of Tynwald is the legislature of the Isle of Man. It is claimed to be the oldest continuous parliamentary body in the world, consisting of the directly elected House of Keys and the indirectly chosen Legislative Council.The Houses sit jointly, for...
in 1993 (although the last execution on the island took place in 1872).
External links
- Isle of Man Government
- Tynwald - The Parliament of the Isle of Man
- iomelections.com - 2006 General Election
- http://mhkstheyworkforyou.org/default.aspx Access to work & info of members of Tynwald