The Legislative Council () is the upper chamber of Tynwald, the legislature of the Isle of Man. The abbreviation "LegCo" is often used.

Composition It consists of eleven members (MLCs): Eight members elected by the House of Keys Three ex officio members: President of Tynwald, ex officio President of the Legislative Council (casting vote) Bishop of Sodor and Man Attorney General for the Isle of Man (non-voting)

Historically, most or all elected MLCs were former MHKs, but this practice has now much reduced or ceased.

Formerly, the Lieutenant Governor presided over the Legislative Council and over Tynwald Court (a joint session of the Council and the House of Keys). Now, however, the President of Tynwald, who is chosen by the whole Tynwald for a five-year term, is the ex officio President of the Legislative Council, and presides over both the Legislative Council and Tynwald Court, except that the Lieutenant Governor presides once a year on Tynwald Day.

Furthermore, the Church of England Bishop of Sodor and Man and the Attorney General have seats on the Legislative Council. The Bishop is a voting member, the Attorney General is a non-voting member, and the President has the casting vote.

The Council does not usually originate legislation; most of the time, it reviews draft legislation originating in the House of Keys. However, it is possible for legislation to originate in the Council: a recent example is the Equality Act 2017.

The council meets in the Chamber of the Legislative Council, Legislative Buildings in Douglas.

Method of election The MLCs are elected by the members of the House of Keys for a term of five years. Four MLCs retire at a time, and four new MLCs are then elected. An MLC must be at least 21 years old and resident in the Isle of Man. Historically the election procedure has been cumbersome, and on some occasions in recent years the election has required many ballots, stretching over a period of weeks or even months. However the Standing Orders of the House of Keys regarding the election of MLCs were amended on 4 April 2017, and a relevant Guidance Note was issued by the Speaker of the House of Keys in June 2017. In 2018, only one ballot was required, although some felt that that was at the cost of allowing members to vote for an excessive number of candidates (one member voted for 13 candidates out of 15 and another for 11).

A motion was proposed in the Keys on 28 January 2020, shortly before the 2020 MLC election, which would have prevented MHKs voting for more candidates than there are places to be filled, but this was rejected.

In 2020, again only one ballot was required, and members voted for an average of about 4 candidates each. In 2023, again only one ballot was required, and members voted for an average of about 5 candidates each.

2016 Review of the Functioning of Tynwald For many years there has been considerable debate about the functioning of Tynwald, and specifically about the composition, method of election, and functions of the Legislative Council. In the past, a number of reforms were made in the composition of the Legislative Council, which are set out below. In 2016 Lord Lisvane was asked to carry out a review of the functioning of Tynwald.Review of the Functioning of Tynwald, Isle of Man Government, 19 July 2016 Among his recommendations were:

Members of the Legislative Council should continue not to be directly elected, but instead should be nominated by an independent Nominations Commission to the House of Keys. No sitting MHK could be nominated. The Legislative Council should not vote on taxation or appropriation. Only exceptionally should MLCs be ministers. The Bishop should continue as an ex officio voting member of the Legislative Council.

However there has been little action to implement these recommendations.

1990 reform and current composition The Lieutenant Governor was removed as Presiding Officer of Tynwald and replaced by a member of Tynwald elected by the Members of the High Court of Tynwald as President of Tynwald. (Currently only MHKs are electors.) The President of Tynwald is also a member of the Legislative Council and presides at its sittings. The members are thus:

President of Tynwald Attorney General Bishop of Sodor and Man Eight members elected by the House of Keys

The non-ex officio members are elected by the House of Keys for terms which end at the end of February immediately before the fifth anniversary of their election.

Current membership

Name Position Tenure Predecessor Juan Watterson President of Tynwald 2026–present Laurence Skelly Tricia Hillas Bishop of Sodor and Man Since 2024 Peter Eagles Walter WannenburghAttorney-General Since 2022 John Quinn Tanya August-PhillipsElected members2018–2028rowspan="8" Paul Craine2021–2028Diane Kelsey Rob Mercer2020-2030 Peter Reid2025-2030 Gary Clueit Kirstie MorphetDawn Kinnish2023–2028

Membership of the council since 1990

Year Reason for change Previous Candidates4 March 2025Scheduled electionRobert MercerBill HendersonPeter GreenhillKerry SharpeRobert Mercer (elected)Peter Reid (elected)Gary Clueit (elected)Kirstie Morphet (elected)Julia BellRonald BerryBarry CarbisMark CleatorBarry DuncanMatthew GoughBill HendersonAndrew JonesClair NewallMartyn PerkinsKerry Sharpe14 March 2023Scheduled electionTanya August-PhillipsPaul CraineDiane KelseyMarlene MaskaTanya August-Phillips (elected)Paul Craine (elected)Diane Kelsey (elected)Dawn Kinnish (elected)Marie BirtlesBrian BrumbyGary ClueitKirrie Anne JenkinsConor KeenanDavid PrictorPeter ReidJanuary 2022Death of John Quinn23 November 2021Election of two MLCs as MHKs Jane Poole-WilsonKate Lord-Brennan Paul Craine (elected)Diane Kelsey (elected)Bill ShimminsCorelli BenthamCraig BrownMaryBeth CollConor KeenanIn 2021 Steve Rodan reached the end of his term as President and was replaced by Laurence Skelly.12 March 2020Scheduled electionDavid CretneyTim CrookallBill HendersonKerry SharpePeter Greenhill (elected)Bill Henderson (elected)Robert Mercer (elected)Kerry Sharpe (elected)Danielle BellMichelle HaywoodHaafizah HoosenCarole LillywhiteZahed Miah Scheduled election, and casual vacancy by resignation 2017 Casual vacancy by resignation Tony Wild 2015 Scheduled election Note: As on other occasions, the 2015 elections took place over several sessions and many ballots.These candidates did not all take part in all the ballots.For the same reason it would not be useful to give the number of votes cast for each candidate. 2013 Scheduled election 2011 Casual vacancy by elevation to President of Tynwald Clare Christian 2011 Casual vacancy by resignation Noel Cringle 2011 Appointment of Attorney General, following resignation John Corlett QC Stephen Harding QC 2010 Scheduled election 2008 Scheduled election 2008 Appointment of Bishop of Sodor and Man Graeme Paul Knowles Robert Paterson 2007 Casual vacancies by resignation 2005 Scheduled election 2003 Scheduled election, and casual vacancy by resignation 2003 Appointment of Bishop of Sodor and Man, following resignation Noël Jones Graeme Knowles 2002 Casual vacancy by death Norman Radcliffe 2000 Scheduled election 2000 Casual vacancy by resignation of the President of Tynwald Charles Kerruish 1998 Appointment of Attorney General, following promotion to First Deemster Mike Kerruish QC John Corlett QC 1998 Scheduled election 1995 Scheduled election 1994 Casual vacancy by death W K Quirk 1993 Scheduled election 1990 Scheduled election

Past membership Name Position Tenure Replacing Robert Paterson Bishop of Sodor and Man 2008–2016 Graeme Paul Knowles Stephen Harding QC Attorney General 2011–2013 John Corlett Alan Crowe Elected member 1998–2002 Brian Barton Elected member 2007–2015 Leonard Singer Dudley Butt Elected member 2005–2015 Dominic Delaney Alex Downie Elected member 2005–2015 Ray Kniveton Phil Braidwood Elected member 2010–2015 George Waft Tony Wild Elected member 2011–2017 Clare Christian David Callister Elected member 2008–2013 Pam Crowe Edmund Lowey Elected member 1982–2013 George Swales Leonard Singer Elected member 2003–2006 Alan Crowe Arthur Christian Luft Attorney General 1972–1974 Lay Elected member 1988–1998 Ian Anderson John William Corrin Attorney General 1974–1980 Arthur Luft Thomas William Cain QC Attorney General 1980–1993 Jack Corrin Michael Kerruish QC Attorney General 1993–1998 William Cain John Corlett QC Attorney General 1998–2011 Michael Kerruish Graeme Knowles Bishop of Sodor and Man 2003–2008 Noël Jones Donald Gelling Elected member 2002–2007 Norman Radcliffe Clifford Irving Elected member 1987–1995 Matty Ward Noel Cringle President of Tynwald 2000–2011 Sir Charles Kerruish Sir Charles Kerruish President of Tynwald 1990–2000 Ian Anderson Ian Anderson Elected member 1982–1988 Geoff Crellin President of the Legislative Council 1988–1990 Jack Nivison Elected member 1990–1993 Jack Nivison Elected member 1962–1980 Alfred Teare President of the Legislative Council 1980–1988 The Venerable J. Kewley Archdeacon 1912–1919 Cyril Hughes-Games Vicar General 1906–1919 Joseph Qualtrough Elected member 1919–1933 Joseph Cunningham Elected member 1919–1924 R C Cain Elected member 1919–1924 Joseph Cunningham John Robert Kerruish Elected member 1919–1924 William Southward Elected member 1919–1943 George Drinkwater Appointee of Lieutenant Governor 1919–1920 Richard Barton Quirk Appointee of Lieutenant Governor 1919–1942 Sir John Bolton Appointed member 1962–1970 John Crellin Elected member 1971–1979 Henry Nicholls G C Gale Elected member 1964–1966 Ewan Farrant Ffinlo Corkill Elected member 1966–1974 G C Gale Major Geoffrey Crellin Elected member 1975–1982 Norman Crowe OBE JP Elected member 1970–1978 Cecil McFee Captain John Crellin OBE MC JP Appointed member 1943–1962 Daniel Teare Betty Hanson Elected member 1982–1988 Alfred Simcocks MBE Robert Kerruish Elected member 1970–1985 Victor Kneale Elected member 1974–1981 Hubert Radcliffe Roy MacDonald Elected member 1978–1985 Norman Crowe Cecil McFee 1962–1971 Alec Moore Elected member 1979–1985 William E Quayle Henry Nicholls Elected member 1958–1970 Joseph Callister William E Quayle Elected member 1970–1978 Willy Quirk Elected member 1987–1993 Dr Edgar Mann Norman Radcliffe Elected member 1985–2002 Roy MacDonald Percy Radcliffe Elected member 1980–1985 Sir John Bolton Alfred Simcocks MBE Elected member 1974–1982 Ffinlo Corkhill George Swales Elected member 1982–1982 Victor Kneale Matthew Ward Elected member 1985–1987 Alec Moore Arthur Attwell Bishop of Sodor and Man 1983–1988 Vernon Nicholls Noël Jones Bishop of Sodor and Man 1989–2003 Arthur Attwell Vernon Nicholls Bishop of Sodor and Man 1973–1983 George Moore First Deemster 1969–1974 Sir Ralph Stevenson GCMG CP JP Appointed member 1955–1970 William Watson Christian 1848–1867 The Rev. William Christian 1883–1887 William Quirk 1887–1893 William Anderson Receiver General 1894–1909 John Cowell Receiver General 1909–1919 William AndersonJohn Goldie-TaubmanAppointed member 1921–1924 George DrinkwaterEdward CallisterElected member 1921–1931 John Robert KerruishJohn ClucasAppointed member1924–1928 John Goldie-TaubmanFrank DagleishElected member1931–1946 Edward Callister Charles Gill Elected member 1934–1954 Arthur Crookall Arthur Crookall Elected member 1934–1935 Joseph Qualtrough Joseph Callister Elected member 1946–1958 Ewan Farrant Elected member 1954–1964 Hubert Radcliffe 1963–1974

Historical composition

Original

The original function of the Legislative Council was executive (i.e. giving advice to the Lieutenant Governor — or Lords of Mann prior to Revestment) and its membership was entirely appointed, as follows:

Lieutenant Governor Bishop of Sodor and Man First Deemster Second Deemster Clerk of the Rolls (Position amalgamated with the First Deemster in 1918.) Attorney General Receiver General Water Bailiff (position dissolved 1885) Archdeacon of Sodor and Man Vicar General of Sodor and Man (At various times there were two of these.)