So there we have it. This House of Keys has sat for the first time. We have a new Chief Minister.
It would be a stretch to say events today were exciting, apart from the final couple of minutes when we learned who our new beloved leader would be. Chris Thomas (officially old school) triumphed over Kirrie Jenkins (new broom).
Just about everyone I spoke to afterwards claimed to have predicted this, but some had to be reminded they had predicted something else just yesterday.
A week is a long time in politics. An hour can be a long time in Manx politics. Or at least it can feel like it when you’re waiting to get to the important part of a sitting.
Double Trouble
There was some post-event excitement when we noticed the screengrab we had of the electronic vote showed that one of the people we have elected to run the country for us had voted in favour of both candidates.
This mishap caused us a small panic before we confirmed the official vote result from the head-to-head, which showed the mistake was spotted before the result was called formally and the vote classed as spoiled. This meant the margin matched what we heard read out at the time, so no skullduggery.
Heads Up
Going back to the start of the day, before proceedings had started officially, I was quite nervous to see the new Speaker approaching me at our temporary home on the front row of the public gallery. (The show-offs with the big cameras had stolen our places on the proper press bench that looms over the Keys Chamber.)
Happily, Speaker Ashy, as we shall call him here, was in a jovial mood and wanted to let me know that he liked my tie and, more significantly, he confirmed he would not be wearing a wig for normal sittings. He did say he may dig one out for the biggies, such as Tynwald Day.
I applaud this sensible stance.
Cool head, clear mind.
And they must be itchy.
A few minutes later, though, my attention was drawn to a splendid new portrait of his predecessor, in full regalia. I wonder whether Speaker Ashy will rethink his decision. I hope not.
Rinse and Repeat
The well-intentioned question and answer session after opening statements did not really tell us anything we didn’t already know about the candidates, given the three-hour hustings session last week, that was streamed live.
During the 18 questions that were asked and answered today, the thing that stood out most to me was the efforts both Thomas and Jenkins made to not appear condescending towards the youngest MHK in the room, Daniel Davison. Last week Davison asked, quite reasonably, to not be pigeon-holed as the “poster boy” for his generation.
Even so, the brave efforts of the two candidates to strike the right tone did kind of serve as a reminder to any of us above a certain age to never try to be cool in front of younger people.
It’s okay, guys, politicians aren’t cool. Embrace it.
Who’s Who
The House of Keys was also a new experience for those of us reporting it. You may not have heard, but there were 15 new MHKs. I could barely remember the names of the last bunch from one sitting to the next, so it’s going to take a while.
A cheat code is to remember which celebrity an MHK reminds you of. It is too early to start mentioning any of these yet, as I don’t know whether they might enjoy such comparisons. Besides, politics is a serious business.
Although I did once compare my new best friend, Speaker Ashy, with Bela Lugosi as Dracula. But I meant it as a compliment.
Undead
Speaking of the undead, the CrossKeys political sketch last aired in public decades ago. Long before any of the current House of Keys were near a polling station. It was well past time for a resurrection.
While our current MHKs not remember anything of it, some of their parents featured regularly and prominently.
This is a gentle start.
