Does it matter where your MHK lives?

82 candidates confirmed to contest House of Keys General Election

Almost a quarter of candidates in the upcoming General Election don't live in the constituency they are seeking to represent.

There are 82 candidates, standing for election to the House of Keys, across the Isle of Man's 12 constituencies.

Of that number, 20 don't live in the area which will be next to their name on the ballot paper.

One candidate is standing in two areas and therefore lives in one but not the other.

The busiest ballot paper is Garff, where nine candidates have thrown their hats into the ring, whilst the quietest two are Douglas East and Douglas South which have five candidates each.

You can find the full list of people standing HERE.

It's an increase of 26 percent in comparison to the last General Election in 2021, when 65 candidates ran, and means this time around there is an average number of 6.8 candidates per constituency.

ADDRESSES

Of the 82 candidates; 24 percent don't live in the constituency they are seeking to represent.

Indeed, only one constituency has a full ballot paper containing residents of the area - Ayre and Michael.

Every other district has at least one candidate whose home address - according to the official notice of poll and their manifestos - isn't within the boundary.

Manx Radio's Political Correspondent Phil Gawne says, technically, candidates could stand in all 24 constituencies at once - if they wanted to - regardless of their home address:

DOES IT MATTER?

In the age of social media, when MHKs are more accessible more of the time, and on an Island as small ours, does where your MHK live actually have an impact?

These people on Strand Street told Manx Radio they'd 'prefer' that their candidates do live in the area they are seeking to represent:

Time will tell if it actually influences people's decision on polling day - Thursday, 24 September.

WITHDRAWALS

During the nomination period several candidates who had declared their intention to stand went on to withdraw.

In June, Jeroen Wats, the chief executive of ExoTechnologies, decided he no longer wised to stand in Arbory, Castletown and Malew after realising 'his greatest contribution to the Isle of Man is likely to come through building projects, businesses and community initiatives rather than through elected office'.

Incumbent MHK Tim Glover announced he would not seek re-election citing a change in personal circumstances.

In July Rushen candidate Vicky East withdrew for health reasons and Glenfaba and Peel candidate Andrew Harris withdrew due to personal family commitments.

On 19 August Andrew Corrin declared for Arbory, Castletown and Malew but withdrew on 25 August saying, after a valuable insight into the election process, now is not the right time for his family.

And on 24 August Alfie Duggan declared for Douglas South before withdrawing two days later citing his inability to 'give the campaign the time and dedication it deserves'.

TWO CONSTITUENCIES

Additionally an election candidate who had been planning to stand in two constituencies is now only standing in one.

Arwid Hall had previously announced his intention to stand in both Douglas East and Douglas South but has since decided to only stand in Douglas South.

Taking to Facebook he said his intention was never about 'exploiting' the law but about highlighting a weakness in it.

We do have a candidate standing in two areas though - Nigel Dunmore in both Garff and Ramsey.

PARTIES

The overwhelming majority of candidates in this year's election - 81.7 percent - are standing as independents meaning they're not affiliated with any party on the Island.

But 15 are representing a party - a total of 18.3 percent.

Last time around, in 2021, 56 of the 65 candidates stood independently - 86.1 percent - in addition to two who represented the Isle of Man Green Party, three who represented the Manx Labour Party and four who represented Liberal Vannin.

This time there are four political parties in the mix; the Isle of Man Green party is noticeably absent after not fielding any candidates. 

Manx Radio is due to speak to a party representative regarding this.

But the parties which have fielded candidates include two new names.

Liberal Vannin has four candidates, as does the Manx Labour Party, whilst Change has five and Transform has two candidates standing in the same constituency.

Meanwhile Isle of Man First, which launched back in October last year and set out a wide-ranging manifesto ahead of this year's election, has also not fielded any candidates.

Until 25 September, when all the votes are tallied and the new MHKs selected, it remains to be seen whether the House of Keys will shift to a more party driven model.

NEXT ADMINISTRATION

So, what do we know for definite ahead of polling day on 24 September?

Well, we know at least a third of the House of Keys won't have been members of the last administration and that Glenfaba and Peel will have completely new representation.

Of the 24 MHK's who have served in the last five years, eight are not seeking re-election - including the aforementioned Tim Glover of Arbory, Castletown and Malew.

Alongside him Garff's Andrew Smith, Glenfaba and Peel's Kate Lord-Brennan and Tim Crookall, Middle's Stu Peters and Ramsey's Alex Allinson are not seeking re-election.

Rushen's Juan Watterson has taken up the post of President of Tynwald and as a result is not standing.

Douglas North MHK John Wannenburgh had declared his intention to seek re-election before his sudden death on 2 August.

You can read more tributes to Mr Wannenburgh HERE.

GENERAL ELECTION 

To find out more about the General Election - and the candidates seeking to represent you - you can click HERE.

To sign up for free tickets for Manx Radio's constituency debates click HERE.