The House of Keys finally gets down to something resembling normal business tomorrow.
Since the House of Keys election, which seems like an age ago, there have only been two sittings. The first dealt with the election of a new Speaker (David Ashford) and Deputy Speaker (Richard Henthorn).
We then had a sitting to elect a new Chief Minister (Chris Thomas).
But the November 3 sitting has a more normal air about it.
There are eight questions tabled for oral answer, After that, there are two elections: to put three members onto the Management and Members’ Standards Committee, and to elect five onto the Standing Orders Committee.
There is no legislation to consider yet, but we will forgive them that, given Chris Thomas only finalised his cabinet on Friday.
Question Time
It is perhaps befitting that the first question tabled in this new era comes from the previous Chief Minister.
Unshackled Alfred Cannan will make inquiries of the Chief Minister, the aforementioned Chris Thomas.
Cannan wants to know which of Thomas’ ministers have “declared conflicts of interest” from public statements on the Mooir Vannin wind farm application. He will also ask Thomas how he will ensure they keep out of the application’s determination.
There are two questions tabled for the Cabinet Office Minister, also the aforementioned Chris Thomas, concerning the Suicide Prevention Strategy and the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment on Adverse Childhood Experiences and Ageing Well.
They come from Douglas East MHK Joney Faragher. She also has a question for Health Minister Claire Christian about how she plans to strengthen the Crisis Support Team.
Elsewhere, Glenfaba and Peel MHK Katryna Baptist will ask Treasury Minister Michael Crowe what the average processing times are for Disability Living Allowance, Employed Person’s Allowance and Carer’s Allowance, and what support is there while potential claimants wait for their application to be processed.
Meanwhile, Douglas East MHK Andy Saunders has a potential zinger for Enterprise Minister Robert Cowell. He wants to know who attended an awards ceremony in Liverpool last month. Plenty of discussion online about that already.
And the last two questions take us back to Cannan, about coastal erosion and bus services. They are to be answered by new Infrastructure Minister Jason Moorhouse in a role reversal that may amuse some.
The sitting starts at 10am.
We could be done in time for elevenses.
But anyone who has ever witnessed, previously, the House of Keys or Tynwald electing colleagues on to committees, will not be betting on it.
There is no Legislative Council sitting.
You can read the House of Keys order paper here:
03 Nov 2026 House of Keys Order Paper
