Political Bungle Revealed

[Theodolite]

Isle of Man Today Report

 

Interesting stuff.

 

There has been another appointment in the past which would appear to be contra to Standing Orders and it is topical as there is to be an MLC election in the House next week.

 

 

Regarding the Election of Members to the Legislative Council Standing orders state

 

If, on the first ballot, a candidate receives a majority of the votes of

the Members of the House present and voting, but less than

thirteen votes, then the name of that person shall be voted on once

more and if that person then receives the votes of at least thirteen

Members he or she shall be declared elected; “voting” includes

submitting an invalid voting paper.

 

 

If there remains any vacancy to be filled, the Speaker shall

announce that a further election be held at a subsequent sitting, and

persons previously nominated but not elected shall be eligible for

nomination.

 

On 3rd March 1998, 2 of the 4 candidates for the 4 places were elected with the bare minimum 13 votes (Ray Kniveton and Eddie Lowey) Mrs Christian received 10, Charles Cain 5.

 

According to Standing Orders, that should have been it for the day and fresh nominations called.

 

But against Standing Orders the Speaker went for another ballot. Result:- Christian 12, Cain 4. It seems that because a majority of the House (but not the magic 13) had been achieved, then a further ballot was held for Mrs Christian alone. Mrs Christian received 12 votes again..... So yet another ballot was held with both remaining candidates. Result:- Christian 13, Cain 7.

 

Mrs Christian was then declared elected onto the Legislatiove Council.

 

Now, some may see no problem with this, but someone was given an important job and if the Speaker had kept to the rules, there may well have been a different winning nomination at the next House. You simply can't make it up as you go along. Indeed, there may also have been a different Minister for Health and maybe the £multi-million problems with the building of the Hospital would never have happend. Etc. Etc. You see, we will never know will we, and that is why there are rules and that is why we keep them. So I would question the validity of this election also.

 

I note also at that election, in a desperate bid to fill the one remaining seat, the Speaker gave a further chance to the one remaining candidate, Charles Cain. With all members voting, he achieved 7 votes.

 

At this House of keys meeting Standing Orders were simply ignored or at best rather misinterpreted.

 

The above sitting is related here: House of Keys 3rd March 1998 and the Election starts on page 9. There were some VIP visitors from Australia and Faroe Islands - I wonder what they thought about it all!

[Moghrey Mie]

Isle of Man Today Report

 

Interesting stuff.

 

There has been another appointment in the past which would appear to be contra to Standing Orders and it is topical as there is to be an MLC election in the House next week.

 

 

Regarding the Election of Members to the Legislative Council Standing orders state

 

If, on the first ballot, a candidate receives a majority of the votes of

the Members of the House present and voting, but less than

thirteen votes, then the name of that person shall be voted on once

more and if that person then receives the votes of at least thirteen

Members he or she shall be declared elected; “voting” includes

submitting an invalid voting paper.

 

 

If there remains any vacancy to be filled, the Speaker shall

announce that a further election be held at a subsequent sitting, and

persons previously nominated but not elected shall be eligible for

nomination.

 

On 3rd March 1998, 2 of the 4 candidates for the 4 places were elected with the bare minimum 13 votes (Ray Kniveton and Eddie Lowey) Mrs Christian received 10, Charles Cain 5.

 

According to Standing Orders, that should have been it for the day and fresh nominations called.

 

But against Standing Orders the Speaker went for another ballot. Result:- Christian 12, Cain 4. It seems that because a majority of the House (but not the magic 13) had been achieved, then a further ballot was held for Mrs Christian alone. Mrs Christian received 12 votes again..... So yet another ballot was held with both remaining candidates. Result:- Christian 13, Cain 7.

 

Mrs Christian was then declared elected onto the Legislatiove Council.

 

Now, some may see no problem with this, but someone was given an important job and if the Speaker had kept to the rules, there may well have been a different winning nomination at the next House. You simply can't make it up as you go along. Indeed, there may also have been a different Minister for Health and maybe the £multi-million problems with the building of the Hospital would never have happend. Etc. Etc. You see, we will never know will we, and that is why there are rules and that is why we keep them. So I would question the validity of this election also.

 

I note also at that election, in a desperate bid to fill the one remaining seat, the Speaker gave a further chance to the one remaining candidate, Charles Cain. With all members voting, he achieved 7 votes.

 

At this House of keys meeting Standing Orders were simply ignored or at best rather misinterpreted.

 

The above sitting is related here: House of Keys 3rd March 1998 and the Election starts on page 9. There were some VIP visitors from Australia and Faroe Islands - I wonder what they thought about it all!

 

I should think the Aussies found it very tame compared with their set-up. They are used to plain speaking in the chamber.

 

Now that standing orders are probably Speaker Rodan's bedtime reading maybe he is spotting some of the practices that have gone on in the past in contravention of them.