Four vacancies will arise on the Legislative Council on 28^th February 2025 for a term of office ending on 28^th February 2030. The Speaker of the House of Keys, the Hon Juan Watterson SHK, has determined under Standing Orders that an election will be held on Tuesday, 4^th March 2025 at 10 am. The Speaker has today launched the election process in the House of Keys; in doing so, he has announced the timetable for the election, which will be: 

Application Deadline: Thursday, 9^th January 2025 at 12 noon.

Applicants’ Conference: Friday, 24^th January 2025 at 2 pm.

Proposal Deadline: Thursday, 13^th February 2025 at 12 noon.

Hustings: Monday, 24^th February 2025 at 9.30 am, and at the later time of 2.30 pm, if required.

Hustings Reserve Date: Wednesday 26^th February 2025 at 9.30 am, and at the later time of 2.30 pm, if required.

Election Sitting: Tuesday, 4^th March 2025 at 10 am.

Swearing In Ceremony: Tuesday, 11^th March 2025 at 9.30 am.

The Standing Orders relating to the Elections to the Legislative Council can be found in the Standing Orders of the House of Keys at SOs 8.1 to 8.7 and at Annex 2. The Standing Orders of the House of Keys relating to Elections to the Legislative Council were revised on 1^st July 2024.

The President of Tynwald, The Hon Laurence Skelly MLC, wishes to encourage a wide variety of candidates to come forward for the election. He said:

“In March 2025 the House of Keys will elect four Members of the Legislative Council.  Members of the Legislative Council are valuable and vital Members of Tynwald who serve the Island through the delivery of their work, which includes both the scrutiny and promotion of legislation; and both the scrutiny of Government and in supporting their MHK colleagues in their parliamentary and Government roles.

Tynwald should represent the Island community in all its forms. There are still sections of our community who are under- or unrepresented in Tynwald; we would benefit from hearing those voices and experiences.

I will be happy to speak to anyone who wishes to find out more about any aspect of the MLC role. I very much hope the new application process will feel more friendly and open to those applying, especially those who have no experience of the parliamentary world.”

Mr Speaker added:

“The election in March 2025 will follow a revised procedure for elections to the Legislative Council. It is recognised and welcomed that in recent years several applicants who were previously unknown to Tynwald have come forward to apply for election, and those elected have made a valuable contribution. The revised procedure should look and feel like a conventional recruitment process, and I hope this will feel more accessible to those who are less familiar with Tynwald’s rules and procedures. Importantly, however, the procedure will ensure that applicants are subject to the necessary public and political scrutiny before election.

Interested parties should refer to the Guidance for Candidates on the Tynwald website. The Guidance includes the “Job Description” for an MLC, which sets out Legislative Council’s fundamental and valuable role within Tynwald, supporting their directly elected colleagues in the House of Keys.

I look forward to having the opportunity of choosing from a strong field of candidates in March.”

Further particulars of the role together with information on how to stand for election may be found on the Tynwald website by following this link.

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For further information contact:

Joann Corkish
Deputy Clerk of Tynwald
Legislative Buildings
Douglas
IM1 3PW
Tel: 01624 685500
j.corkish@tynwald.org.im