Bishop's vote Bill not at risk of being timed out

Committee chair confirms report is on the way

The chair of a committee producing a report into whether the Bishop of Sodor and Man should lose their Tynwald vote says its lack of appearance so far doesn't threaten the Bill in question.

Ramsey MHK Lawrie Hooper's Private Members Bill - known as the Constitution Bill - wants to keep the Bishop on the Legislative Council, but to remove their voting powers.

Just over a year ago, then-MLC Bill Henderson gained support for a committee to look into the proposed change further; he was elected to the committee alongside Rob Mercer and Paul Craine, who was appointed as the committee's chair

Tanya August-Phillips, who is the member responsible for taking the proposals through the Legislative Council, told Manx Radio that she's sympathetic to the Bishop's recent bereavement, but is also anxious to ensure the Bill isn't timed out in December, a concern which is shared by Mr Hooper.

But, Mr Craine says there's no need to worry - as John Moss reports: