Liberal Vannin leader Peter Karran has been given leave to introduce yet another attempt at reform of the Legislative Council.
MHKs voted in favour of allowing Mr Karran’s private member’ bill to cross the first hurdle despite concerns expressed by some members that there were far higher priorities.
Under the reforms proposed by the Onchan MHK, MLCs will be elected to the upper house by the public, with the vote conducted on an all-island basis.
MLCs will be barred from serving in a government role either as ministers or members of departments, under the proposals, and there would be changes to their pay and conditions.
Mr Karran told the House of Keys that there had never been a greater need to ‘create the environment for good governance’.
His Lib Van colleague Kate Beecroft (Douglas South) said that separation of powers was ‘fundamental in a democracy. ‘We can’t have everyone in government - it’s not right,’ she said - prompting Home Affairs Minister Juan Watterson (Rushen) to retort: ‘So resign then!’
But Middle MHK Howard Quayle said there were far more pressing concerns. ‘Not one person raised it with me in the 2011 election. What the public is concerned about is growing the economy, balancing the budget and protecting the vulnerable.’
He said until these ‘big three’ had been properly addressed members shouldn’t be wasting their time on ‘minutiae’ but should focus instead on ‘steering our island around some very dangerous rocky waters’.
Mr Quayle said, however, he would support Mr Karran’s right to seek leave to introduce his private member’s bill but hoped he would ‘park’ his proposals until the greater priorities had been tackled.
Mr Watterson said he aligned himself with the first 95 per cent of the Middle MHK’s comments. He branded as Bill as ‘navel gazing’.
But fellow Rushen MHK, Agriculture Minister Phil Gawne supported Mr Karran’s Bill, insisting it was an ‘entirely appropriate thing to do’.
He said the island currently had an ‘outdated and archaic system’ dating back to the time when the members of LegCo were the ‘henchmen of the Lords of Mann’.
‘I’m not saying tradition isn’t important but it isn’t the be all and end all,’ he said. ‘I think this is an excellent way forward and I don’t think it will involve a significant amount of drafting time.’
MHKs voted to give leave to introduce the Bill by 17 votes to four.