Call for Tynwald to vote as one body

West Douglas member to challenge voting system

The Manx parliament's historic voting system will be challenged when Tynwald sits this week.

At present, its two branches - the House of Keys and Legislative Council - have their votes announced and recorded separately.

Only if the houses fail to agree on a motion - with Keys in favour and LegCo against - is there a combined vote.

West Douglas MHK Chris Thomas says that means the nine non elected members of LegCo wield relatively more power than their elected Keys colleagues.

He's calling for that tradition to end, and for Tynwald to vote as one body in future.

Mr Thomas says his motion is just one aspect of a much-needed raft of reforms.