The morning after Tynwald voted not to censure Peel and Glenfaba MHK Kate Lord‑Brennan, Members have been reflecting on a final sitting that many described as difficult, emotional and far from the ending they had hoped for.
The chamber agreed to receive the Standards Committee report but rejected the separate recommendation to censure Ms Lord‑Brennan, bringing a three hour debate to a tense close late last night.
Arbory, Castletown and Malew MHK Tim Glover said it was “an emotional and sad” way to finish his term, describing the session as a marathon and warning that attempts to police social media drag politics “into a swamp”.
He argued the process had failed long before it reached the floor of Tynwald and called for independent handling of standards complaints, with stronger mediation earlier in disputes.
Not What They Wished For
Rushen MHK Michelle Haywood said the final sitting “wasn’t the finale any of us would have wished for”, noting that emotions ran high throughout the debate and that distress among Members was clear.
She said standards “should be set high” in a national parliament and that ending the session on a disciplinary matter was “deeply saddening”.
Onchan MHK Rob Callister described the sitting as “particularly disappointing”, saying debates of this nature inevitably strain friendships and trust. He pointed to the volume of complaints seen in recent years and said that culture “needs to change” after the General Election.
He praised President Juan Watterson’s handling of the debate and said resolving the matter now avoided divisions spilling into the next administration. “As elected representatives, we can and should do better,” he said.
