Proroguing is not a Manx tradition, says Keys speaker

'We don't do it the same way as UK'

The speaker of the House of Keys says the act of suspending parliament, known as proroguing, is a power available to the current Manx government, but is not part of tradition.

In the wake of the Queen's approval to close the House of Commons before the country's planned EU departure date of 31 October, Juan Watterson told Manx Radio the move by Boris Johnson was 'predictable':

Meanwhile, Mr Watterson's counterpart in Westminster, Speaker John Bercow, has called it a 'constitutional outrage'.

Legislation on the Island states it is the lieutenant governor who can prorogue Keys, on the advice of the chief minister.

However, it's understood the mechanism has never been used on the Isle of Man.