House of Keys

Women have been able to stand for election to the House of Keys since 1919, when universal adult suffrage was introduced. The first woman to be elected was Mrs Marion Shimmin at a by-election in 1933 caused by the death of her husband Christopher. Mrs Shimmin was elected unopposed. Ten women were elected to the Keys at the 2021 election.  This is the highest number of women MHKs at any one time. 

Legislative Council

Women have been able to stand for election to the Legislative Council since 1961.  Betty Hanson, a former MHK, was the first woman to be elected to the Legislative Council in 1982. From then until 2018, three other women served as MLCs: Clare Christian from 1993 to 2011, Pamela Crowe from 2003 to 2008, and Jane Poole-Wilson from 2017 to 2018. Mrs Poole-Wilson was the first woman MLC who had not previously been an MHK. Five women were elected to the Council in 2018. This is the highest number of women MLCs at any one time. 

Members are listed below chronologically, in the order in which they were sworn into office.   

Presiding Officers

Chairs of Parliamentary Committees

In 2011, the parliamentary committee system was reformed with the introduction of the Policy Review Committees.  Since then, the following women have been elected to chair Standing Committees: 

Ministers

The ministerial system was introduced in 1986.  The following women have served as Ministers since then: 

Read more about the history of women's suffrage on the Isle of Man here: https://www.tynwald.org.im/history/Women-Suffrage