Two new faces have been elected to represent Garff in the House of Keys, with Richard Henthorn topping the poll and Vicki Hewison securing the constituency’s second seat.
Henthorn received 1,167 votes, while Hewison secured 968. Their election sees Education, Sport and Culture Minister Daphne Caine lose her seat after representing Garff for the past decade.
Aishlinn Creer finished third with 891 votes, narrowly ahead of Martyn Perkins, who received 836. Seán Boström polled 542 votes, followed by Caine on 389, Anthony Allen on 315 and Nigel Dunmore on 286. Peter Kermeen received 79 votes.
Henthorn Makes Mooir Vannin His Priority
Henthorn, who has lived in Laxey for more than 30 years, was elected after campaigning on a range of local issues, with the proposed Mooir Vannin Wind Farm a central focus of his manifesto.
The current chair of Garff Commissioners, Henthorn has served on the local authority for more than 12 years. He previously ran a business in Laxey for 21 years, employing more than 100 people, mainly from the local area.
In his manifesto, Henthorn called for the Mooir Vannin application to be halted to allow a full debate in Tynwald and among the public. He also called for an independent financial review of Ørsted’s claims, raising concerns about the scrutiny and transparency of the application and its potential financial consequences for the island.
His other priorities for Garff include improving bathing water quality at Laxey beach, addressing road conditions and rates issues in Onchan, protecting community facilities such as Maughold village hall, and supporting the return of Garwick Glen and beach to public ownership.
More broadly, Henthorn said he wanted to improve government accountability and value for money, find savings in public services and encourage investment and well-paid employment. He also highlighted the importance of apprenticeships, affordable housing and opportunities for young people.
Hewison Elected on Practical Approach
Hewison secured the second seat with 968 votes, having campaigned on bringing a practical, common-sense approach to the House of Keys.
Manx-born and educated on the island, Hewison has a background spanning banking, marketing, property development, the motor trade and retail. She has operated several businesses and currently runs Whim Boutique in Laxey.
She said she wanted to represent Garff residents by listening to their concerns, solving problems and getting things done. Her campaign message, “Getting the Job Done”, emphasised a practical approach to representing the constituency.
Minister Loses Seat
Daphne Caine was unsuccessful in her bid for re-election, receiving 389 votes.
Caine had represented Garff in the House of Keys since September 2016 and was re-elected in 2021. She served as Minister for the Department of Education, Sport and Culture from 2024 to 2026.
The proposed Mooir Vannin Wind Farm emerged as a significant issue in the constituency campaign.
Henthorn and Hewison both opposed the project, while Caine had argued that the legal process for the application should be allowed to proceed before a decision was made.
