Current MLC Phil Braidwood failed to be re-elected today (Monday) as the two final Legislative Council members were chosen by MHKs.
First, in the third vote of the day, current Peel MHK and Education Minister Tim Crookall achieved the magical 13 votes securing one of the two remaining seats.
Voting then reached a stalemate between former Douglas East MHK Phil Braidwood and Glenfaba MHK David Anderson. The seventh round of voting saw MHKs reject Mr Braidwood, the only candidate, by a whisker as he secured 12 votes.
In the eighth and final round of voting the only candidate was Mr Anderson, who secured 14 votes and was duly elected to the Legislative Council.
Former High Bailiff Michael Moyle secured seven votes and dropped out after the fourth round.
Accountant and former Rushen parish commissioner Adrian Tinkler secured just two votes and dropped out after the second round of voting.
It means there will have to be by-elections in Peel and Glenfaba to find replacement MHKs.
But the winners will not be in post too long because the general election, when all Keys seats are up for grabs, will take place in September 2016.
That election will be fought on the basis of new constituencies. Next year, Glenfaba and Peel will merge to become one, larger constituency, which will elect two MHKs.
Crookall’s elevation to Legislative Council means that a new Education Minister will have to be appointed. Under convention, MLCs are not made government ministers.
Mr Anderson is a former minister, having been at health, education and transport while Mr Braidwood served as minister in both the home affairs department and transport.
The vacancies arose when four service MLCs retired by rotation in February.
They could have all stood for re-election but three didn’t. {http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/three-mlcs-stand-down-1-7114755|Dudley Butt, Alan Crowe and Alex Downie} decided to retire. Mr Braidwood wanted to keep his job.
{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/updated-story-two-by-elections-triggered-by-legco-vote-1-7158041|Former MHKs David Cretney and Bill Henderson filled two of the seats in March.}
But MHKs couldn’t agree on who should fill the other two seats till today.
{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/none-of-above-win-legco-poll-1-7149274|The Examiner offered its readers the chance to vote for MLCs}
{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/michael-moyle-stands-for-legco-1-7296454|Our story about Michael Moyle standing}
{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/tim-crookall-i-m-still-committed-to-my-constituency-1-7186392|What Tim Crookall told his constituents in Peel}