Latest news with #HouseofKeys
BBC News
07-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Parking charges for Tynwald members to be reintroduced
Parking charges for politicians to be reintroduced The re-introduction of parking charges for Tynwald members is set to come into force next month, the infrastructure minister has said. Michelle Haywood told the House of Keys a new parking policy was agreed by the Council of Ministers in March and was expected to be in place by 1 June. Charges Tynwald were suspended along with those for senior civil servants in April 2020 during the coronavirus pandemic lockdown as many people worked from home. Haywood said while the department had intended for the measure for politicians to come into force on 1 May it was still working through the administrative process.
BBC News
25-04-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Former Isle of Man chief minister Tony Brown returns to politics
A former chief minister is among those who have been voted into office in five local authorities across the Isle of Man. Tony Brown, who has been elected to Castletown Commissioners, was a Member of the House of Keys (MHK) for 30 years and served as chief minister from 2006 to other former MHKs also gained seats, including David Cretney who topped the polls in Douglas South Ward to serve on the city council, and Ray Harmer in said returning to the political arena "after being retired for 12 years" was something he had put "a lot of thought" into. Only five districts held elections on Thursday, with the remaining seats in 16 local government areas uncontested. 'Challenge government' In the south of the island, Brown was one of seven to gain a seat in the ancient capital. He said one of his top priorities was to push for progress on a "replacement public swimming pool for Castletown", after ongoing uncertainty about the current one."There's been virtually no movement on that now for years," he hoped that his experience of managing the Council of Ministers and being Speaker of the House of Keys would be "helpful" on the board of said: "I think local authorities have got to learn how to be more assertive with government."If the majority of members agree on an issue, he said he hoped they would "be able to start to challenge government a bit more on things they are doing or not doing".John Cringle, William Galley, Alan Leonard, Mahendrakumar Patel, Carol Quine, and Laurence Watterson were also elected. Results In Douglas South Ward, Cretney received the highest number of votes across the whole election, with 1, was a Tynwald member for more than 30 years, formerly an infrastructure minister and a member of the Manx Labour Party. He will be joined on the council by newcomers Steven Crellin and Karel Ver Clague topped the polls in Patrick, with 250 votes. Robert Anderson, Paul Craker, Leo Cussons and Simon Mellor also gained seats to serve in the rural area known for its many hills and the west, former infrastructure minister Ray Harmer topped the polls in Peel with 792 votes. Katryna Baptist, Frank Crompton, Alistair Cubbon-Wood, Stuart Hardingham, Sharon Lambert, and Christine Moughtin also earned a seat on the commissioners. There was a turnout of about 28%.In the north, Juan McGuinness retained his seat and received the most votes with 477. Others elected to the local authority were Emma Honey, Pauline Johns-Garrett, Elizabeth Shimmin, Margaret Webb, and Wilf Young. The town had the lowest voter turnout on the island, at 20%. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
BBC News
18-04-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Isle of Man electorate offered a choice of where to vote
Voters heading to the polls next week on the Isle of Man will, for the first time, be able to choose where in their constituency to cast their stations will be open from 08:00 until 20:00 BST on Thursday in five local authority general elections - Castletown, Douglas South, Patrick, Peel, and Ramsey the successful trial of an app developed by the Government Technology Service at the 2021 House of Keys general election in Douglas South, people will be able to vote at any polling station in their software is used to check voters in at polling stations. A live link into the electoral register will ensure that voters can only cast one ballot. 'Accessibility needs' In addition to offering convenience for voters, the elections team said the move would "allow voters with additional needs to identify a venue that best suits their accessibility needs".Those with additional accessibility requirements have been advised to check the facilities of their polling station online or contact their deputy returning officer for are 21 local authorities on the island and elections take place every four registered voters within the five contested local authorities or districts will receive a polling card by will detail their designated polling station as well as alternatives within the have been advised that while they do not need to bring their polling cards to vote, those who have not received one should contact their deputy returning deadline to apply for a proxy vote is 17:00 on Wednesday. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
BBC News
10-04-2025
- BBC News
Parking fines of £75k owed by off-island vehicle owners
More than 1,300 tickets issued to non-Manx registered vehicles between April 2022 and March 2025 remain unpaid, the infrastructure minister has during a House of Keys sitting this week, Michelle Haywood said it meant outstanding fines amounted to £75,390 across the Department of Infrastructure (DOI) could not chase an unpaid ticket issued to a UK car owner as it did not have access to the licensing database, she some MHKs questioned if new number plate recognition technology, set to be introduced at Douglas harbour next month, could be used to recoup funds. It was confirmed that between 1 April 2022 and 31 March 2023, a total of 735 parking tickets were issued to non-Manx registered those 372 tickets with a value of £23,430 were paid and 363 with a value of £20,850 remain the 2023-2024 financial year, 916 parking tickets were issued to owners of off-island vehicles, 388 tickets with a value of £24,270 were paid, and 528 with a value of £30,990 were April 2024 and March 2025, a total of 744 parking tickets were issued to non-Manx registered vehicles, 449 with a value of £23,550 remain outstanding, while 295 tickets with a value of £18,570 were paid. Periodic checks During the sitting, Jason Moorhouse asked if "given the substantial value" of the fines any discussions with the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) had taken place about incorporating "some kind of catch system" into a new number plate recognition February, the Isle of Man Constabulary announced it would be joining the UK's Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) database in March, with cameras at the Manx port set to be connected to it in May, allowing checks on vehicles travelling on and off the said the General Registry was the responsible authority for collecting the fines, but she would undertake to have a conversation with them to see if they would enquire about doing so with the also confirmed the DOI did not have the authority to write off the fines but it did carry out periodic checks as to whether vehicles with outstanding fines had since been registered on the island, to then follow up on notices. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
What next for the Isle of Man Assisted Dying Bill?
When the Isle of Man became the first place in British Isles to agree to legalise assisted dying the decision made by the parliament was hailed as "historic". After months of debate, the Assisted Dying Bill 2023 completed its passage through the House of Keys and the Legislative Council on Tuesday. But there are still many steps to take before it can become law, including receiving Royal Assent and the creation of secondary legislation and the codes of practice. If the legislative process is successful, the bill's mover Alex Allinson MHK said he hoped an assisted dying service could be in place by 2027. Under the measures in the proposed legislation, those eligible must be terminally ill and "reasonably expected" to die within 12 months, be over the age of 18, and have been resident on the island for five years. The person must also have the legal capacity to make the decision, have the decision verified by two independent doctors, and be registered with an Isle of Man GP. All legislation must be approved by the Head of State before it becomes law under a process known as Royal Assent. As the bill has been agreed by both branches of the parliament, a Royal Assent copy can now be sent to the UK Ministry of Justice. Once authorisation has been received by the Clerk of Tynwald, it would then be circulated for signing during a sitting of Tynwald, when it needs to be signed by least five members of the council and 13 MHKs in Tynwald. At that point it would be sent to be officially signed off by the island's Lieutenant Governor, at which stage it will become an act. The bill must then be promulgated on Tynwald Hill, which involves it being read out in Manx and English, within 18 months of receiving Royal Assent or it ceases to have effect. But the law would not be able to come into operation until Manx politicians have decided how the law would work in practice. That would involve the creation secondary legislation, including codes of practice for medical professionals involved in the process and details on the implementation of the much debated safeguards within the legislation. All that would involve further scrutiny by Tynwald members and consultations with those working in healthcare and other island residents have been promised as pat of that process. The bill has been polarising. Public opinion was narrowly divided in 2023 when more than 3,000 people shared their views in a consultation exercise on the subject. Supporters have said the proposed law change would give people a choice and prevent prolonged suffering, while opponents have raised concerns over coercion, additional pressure on the health service, and a potential exodus of medical professionals. An Isle of Man Medical Society poll found a third of doctors who responded would consider leaving the island if the legislation was introduced. Reacting to the latest step forward, Gordon Macdonald from Care Not Killing, which is an alliance of groups that includes faith-based and pro-life organisations, described the move as "very sad day for islanders". He said he believed the proposed law had been "pushed through by for a small vocal minority" and was "in danger of jeopardising healthcare for everybody in the Isle of Man". In its position statement on the issues, Hospice Isle of Man said it would "respect the freedom of choice of each and every individual" but it "would not see itself taking part in any process directly linked to an assisted death". First place in British Isles approves right to die What is assisted dying and how could the law change? How assisted dying has spread across the world and how laws differ However, those in support of the bill, including campaign group Dignity in Dying, said Tuesday's milestone was a "historic moment for compassion" in the Isle of Man and the wider British Isles. Chief executive Sarah Wootton said the bill's progression was Sue Biggerstaff's husband Simon and Millie Blenkinsop-French's son James "who died without choice over their deaths". The campaigners had "led the charge for choice" in the island, which would mean "no one will be forced to suffer at the end", she said. "Change is coming across the British Isles and the Isle of Man has led the way", she added. While it remains illegal in most countries, more than 300 million people now live in countries which have legalised assisted dying. Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Spain and Austria have all introduced assisted dying laws since 2015. In Westminster Kim Leadbeater's bill is being scrutinised by a committee after MPs backed proposals covering England and Wales in November. In Scotland, Liam McArthur MSP's bill is expecting its first vote by 23 May and in Jersey, politicians have voted to introduce an assisted dying bill with draft legislation to be debated by the end of 2025. While Allinson said he was "hopeful" an Isle of Man assisted dying service could be in place by 2027, many stages of the parliamentary process must still be cleared before a resident who meets the specific Manx criteria would be able to ask for an assisted death. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X. First place in British Isles approves right to die Opposing views shared on assisted dying proposals Assisted dying proposals backed by UK campaigner Manx doctors reject assisted dying bill in survey Views split on Isle of Man assisted dying proposal Tynwald - Making legislation Care Not Killing Hospice Isle of Man Dignity in Dying
