Manx Radio reports that today, after a lengthy debate, Tynwald voted in favour of retaining the right of the Bishop of Sodor and Man to sit and vote in the island’s Legislative Council. Recommendation 2 of the Committee was as follows:
“a. The Lord Bishop should retain his vote.
(if the above recommendation is agreed to)
b. Any Member of Tynwald who has a right to vote should be under the same duty to exercise that vote as any other Member; this applies to the Lord Bishop.
(if the above recommendation is agreed to)
c. Any Member of Tynwald who has a right to vote should be under the same duty to attend and count towards the quorum as any other Member; this applies to the Lord Bishop.”
The House of Keys voted 13-11 in favour of the Bishop retaining the vote and the Legislative Council 5-3 in favour.
An amendment calling for the Bishop to be stripped of all voting powers and another that would have granted him a right to abstention were both narrowly defeated.
We hope to post a longer analysis when the Tynwald Hansard becomes available.