The new Speaker of the House of Keys has made a call for courtesy between MHKs during debate.
Douglas North MHK David Ashford was elected unopposed to the role of Speaker yesterday (September 29)
He said: “While debate in this chamber can and should be robust, I hope we can always remember that disagreement need not mean discourtesy.
“We will achieve far more when we challenge arguments rather than one another, listen as well as speak and recognise that members can hold very different views while being motivated by the same desire to do what they believe is right for our island.”
Call to Work Together
He added: “However, this House works at its best when it works together. We can have disagreements, passionate ones at times, but the people of our island have put us here for one purpose, to work together for the betterment of our island community.”
Ashford was first elected to the House of Keys in 2016. His career has seen him take a number of ministerial, including health minister from 2018-201. He was Chief Minister Alf Cannan’s original choice for Treasury Minister after the 2021 general election but resigned in 2022 amid the fallout from a tribunal ruling that the Isle of Man medical director had been dismissed unfairly.
However, he returned to the Council of Ministers in 2024, as Cabinet Office Minister.
Current Chief Minister Cannan has stepped into that role on an interim basis, now that Ashford has been elected Speaker.
Ministers in the last administration retain their position after the election until a replacement is brought in, but Ashford needed to stand down in order to carry out the new role, which requires impartiality.
Ashford was nominated by Onchan MHK Rob Callister and seconded by Middle MHK Jane Poole-Wilson
Henthorn is Deputy Speaker
A new face to the House of Keys was elected as Deputy Speaker.
Garff MHK Richard Henthorn was nominated by Douglas South MHK Claire Christian and seconded by Peel MHK Daniel Davison.
He said: “Thank you for the trust and honour that you have shown in me and I will do my best to carry that on.”
