All posts tagged: Manx

Bill to scrap bishop’s vote in Manx parliament set to become law

Bill to scrap bishop’s vote in Manx parliament set to become law

Published by Sam Flores

The Isle of Man’s upper chamber has passed a bill today to end its bishop’s voting powers, in what the National Secular Society has hailed as a “landmark constitutional moment”. The Church of England bishop of Sodor and Man sits and votes by right in the Legislative Council (LegCo), the upper chamber of Tynwald, the Isle of Man’s parliament. The Isle of Man Constitution Bill 2023, introduced by House of Keys (Tynwald’s lower chamber) member Lawrie Hooper, does not remove the bishop’s ex officio seat but removes the voting powers. Hooper said unelected appointments to positions of “power and authority” were contrary to the “concept of what a democracy should be”. LegCo voted unanimously for the bill to pass its final stage. However, it was amended to specify the bishop’s vote will continue until the incumbent bishop Tricia Hillas’ (pictured) term ends, or five years after the bill receives royal assent and becomes law, whichever comes first. The amendment originally required the bishop’s vote to end three years after royal assent, but was increased to …

Success! Manx bill to end bishop’s vote in legislature proceeds

Success! Manx bill to end bishop’s vote in legislature proceeds

Published by Sam Flores

The National Secular Society has hailed a historic vote in the Isle of Man’s parliament to end its bishop’s ex officio voting powers as “a victory for fairness, equality and democracy”. The Anglican bishop of Sodor of Man sits and votes by right in the upper chamber of Tynwald (the Manx parliament), the Legislative Council (LegCo). Today, LegCo voted 5 to 3 in favour of a bill to strip the bishop of voting rights. Incumbent bishop Patricia Hillas used her voted to oppose the motion. The bill now moves to its final legislative stage on Tuesday November 11. An amendment may be brought to delay the removal of the bishop’s vote until the end of the Hillas’ tenure. Hillas is understood to oppose such an amendment, arguing that any change should take place without postponement. Twenty-six Church of England bishops also sit by right in the Westminster parliament. The National Secular Society, which campaigns to ensure no clergy are given privileged positions in Parliament, engaged with both houses of Tynwald throughout the bill’s journey to …

Bill to remove bishop’s vote progresses in Manx legislature

Bill to remove bishop’s vote progresses in Manx legislature

Published by Sam Flores

A bill to remove the bishop’s vote in the upper chamber of the Manx legislature has progressed to the next legislative stage. The Anglican bishop of Sodor and Man sits by right and has voting privileges in the Legislative Council (LegCo), the upper chamber of Isle of Man’s parliament, Tynwald. LegCo is now set to debate a select committee report on the bishop’s vote early next month. The report concluded it is for “each individual Member” to decide whether the bishop retains their vote. Reserved seats for religious representatives in legislatures are “rare”, it adds. Delays in the publication of the select committee report had prompted concerns the bill might be timed out. The bill has already been passed by the lower elected chamber, the House of Keys, and is supported by a majority of Manx residents. The Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell has expressed opposition to the plans, saying removing the vote would reduce the bishop to “something like a chaplain to Tynwald, rather than an equal member whose voice and opinion is taken …