Juan Watterson is the new President of Tynwald.
He was voted in unopposed this morning and succeeds Laurence Skelly, who has stood down after five years in the role. He received 28 votes and there were three ‘spoiled’ papers, as initially stated by acting President, Attorney General Walter Wannenburgh.
But this terminology was queried by members who said it was impossible to spoil a vote on the system used.
Mr Wannenburgh said he had declared the result but corrected the statement to say that there were 28 votes in favour of Mr Watterson and three against.
Mr Watterson has been an MHK for 20 years, the past 10 of which he has been Speaker of the House of Keys.
He said he would do ‘my best to be fair, patient and even-handed’.
The primary parliamentary role of the President of Tynwald is to oversee sittings of Tynwald and the Legislative Council and to ensure correct procedures are followed.
Tynwald members get to elect the president from among their number. Mr Skelly was voted into the position in 2021, after 10 years as an MHK, including seven as a minister.
Introduction of President role meant reduced Tynwald influence for Lieutenant Governor
The position of President of Tynwald was created not long after the introduction of the ministerial system and the first to be elected to the position was Sir Charles Kerruish in 1990. At the time it was seen as a significant step towards greater constitutional self-reliance in the Isle of Man, as it meant that ordinary Tynwald sittings were no longer presided over by the Lieutenant Governor.
The only exception is Tynwald Day itself, when the governor presides at Tynwald Hill, as the representative of the monarch, unless they are outranked by the presence of a member of the Royal Family.
Mr Watterson is the sixth President of Tynwald. Sir Charles served until 2000 and then Noel Cringle from 2000-2011. Clare Christian – Sir Charles’ daughter – served from 2011-2016 and Steve Rodan from 2016-2021.
Later in this week’s sitting, members are due to debate a motion that would limit the President of Tynwald to two consecutive five-year terms and also for the President to take on the role of the presiding officer in the House of Keys, the elected chamber, which is currently presided over by the Speaker.
Listen to the election process
A release from the Clerk of Tynwald’s Office published the Votes
There are 33 voting Members of Tynwald. During the ballot for the office of President this morning, three Members were absent from the Chamber: Ms Lord-Brennan, Mrs Poole-Wilson and Mr Thomas. The votes cast by the 30 voting Members present were as follows:
For (28): Dr Allinson, Mr Ashford, Mrs August-Phillips, Mrs Barber, Mrs Caine, Mr Callister, Ms Christian, Mr Clueit, Mrs Corlett, Mr Craine, Mr Crookall, Ms Faragher, Mr Glover, Dr Haywood, Mr Hooper, Mr Johnston, Mrs Kelsey, Mrs Kinnish, Lord Bishop, Mrs Maltby, Mr Mercer, Mr Moorhouse, Mrs Morphet, Mr Peters, Mr Reid, Mr Smith, Mr Speaker, Mr Wannenburgh
Against (2): Mr Cannan, Ms Edge
The electronic system recorded that 28 Members voted in favour and there were three spoilt papers. This anomaly can be explained as follows.
The absence of Mrs Poole-Wilson and Mr Thomas was known in advance. The voting system was therefore set up not to expect a vote from them. The absence of Ms Lord-Brennan was not known in advance. The system was therefore set up to expect a vote from her.
The three Members treated by the system as having submitted spoilt papers were:
- Mr Cannan – voted against
- Ms Edge – voted against
- Ms Lord-Brennan – vote expected but not cast