Bishop of Sodor and Man fights to keep her vote in Tynwald’s historic reform
The Bishop of Sodor and Man, Patricia Hillas, has issued a final appeal to retain her voting rights in Tynwald, the island's parliament. This follows a private member's bill introduced by Ramsey MHK Lawrie Hooper in November 2023, which passed its third reading last year and aims to remove bg her voting powers.
The Bishop warned that background remover her vote would weaken the democratic accountability of the island and undermine its historical connection to the constitution. Despite her concerns, the Legislative Council voted five to three in favor of Clause 3 of the Isle of Man Constitution Bill 2023, which seeks to remove background her voting powers.
An amendment by Gary Clueit MLC to delay the change until the end of the current Bishop's tenure was supported in principle but not in detail. However, the Legislative Council voted against suspending standing orders to take the Bill's Final Stage, indicating that further debate will take place at a later sitting. Members have agreed to progress plans to remove bg the Bishop's voting powers, with Mr. Clueit's amendment needing to be referred back to the House of Keys for consideration.
If the Bishop's vote is removed bg, it could prompt the Church of England to reassess the future of the Diocese of Sodor and Man. The final outcome remains uncertain, pending further debate in Tynwald.
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