Chief minister election process charges proposed

An Isle of Man chief minister is appointed by members of the House of Keys

More time to consider candidates’ policies, full speeches, and formal questions, are among changes proposed to the way the Isle of Man’s chief minister is elected.

The Standing Orders Committee has made a number of recommendations to reform the process, which will be debated by members of the House of Keys.

The panel decided to review the procedure as part of a wider review of standing orders after the 2021 General Election.

Among proposed changes, the committee has called for candidates for the position to deliver a speech to the house, something currently only allowed by the nominee’s proposer and seconder.

The committee said that would “give the house a clearer indication of how each candidate would perform as chief minister”.

‘More transparent’

The panel, made up of Juan Watterson SHK, David Ashford, Claire Christian MHK, Joney Faragher MHK, Timothy Glover MHK, Lawrie Hooper MHK, said that would make “the process both more thorough and more transparent”.

If carried forward, contenders would make a 10-minute opening speech and a five-minute closing address.

Electing the island’s chief minister is a decision made by members of House of Keys within 21 days of a general election.

As well as speeches, the committee has recommended those nominated should face questions submitted by MHKs in the chamber, meaning the answers would “become part of the formal parliamentary record”.

The committee has also recommended policy statements must be submitted at the same time as candidacy is confirmed seven days before the sitting, rather than the current five allowed for the documents to be published.

That would allow MHKs more time to decide which questions to submit for possible inclusion on the order paper, it added.

The proposed changes would also cement the process of holding of a hustings for the candidates prior to the election in standing orders.

A date has not yet been set for the committee’s report to be debated, but if the proposals are agreed by members they would take immediate effect.

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