Hostname: page-component-7c8c6479df-p566r Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-03-26T13:28:33.128Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Lisvane's Legacy? Constitutional reform in the Isle of Man

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 September 2019

Peter W Edge*
Affiliation:
Centre for Global Politics, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK
*
*Author email: pwedge@brookes.ac.uk

Abstract

The Isle of Man is a largely autonomous dependent territory of the UK. In 2016, Lord Lisvane was commissioned to report on the functioning of the principal organ of governance, the Tynwald. This Lisvane Review has led to substantial constitutional reform within this small democracy, particularly in relation to the unelected second chamber of Tynwald, the Legislative Council. This reflects an ancient tension within the Manx constitution between the House of Keys, since the mid-nineteenth century a directly elected chamber, and the unelected Legislative Council. The Lisvane period saw important changes to the composition and powers of the Legislative Council, as well as gender diversity within Tynwald as a whole. Placing the Manx experience within a broader small democracy theoretical and comparative framework demonstrates not only the possibility of constitutional reform, but also provides insights into resources for constitutional development, the special challenges of managing intimacy, and the dangers of over-concentration of power in a small democracy.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Society of Legal Scholars 2019

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1 IOMG, 2016 Isle of Man Census Report (2017) GD 2017/004 at 8.

2 PW Edge ‘David, Goliath and supremacy: the Isle of Man and the sovereignty of the United Kingdom parliament’ (1995) Anglo-American Law Review 1; Pearce, CCAWhen is a colony not a colony? England and the Isle of Man’ (2003) 32(4) Common Law World Review 368CrossRefGoogle Scholar.

3 Morris, PConstitutional practices and British Crown dependencies: the gap between theory and practice’ (2012) 41(1) Common Law World Review 1CrossRefGoogle Scholar.

4 Sutton, AThe impact of Brexit on the Channel Islands and other territories’ (2018) 22(3) Jersey and Guernsey Law Review 260Google Scholar; S Alegre ‘Brexit, human rights and self-determination – a perfect storm in the British Crown dependencies and Overseas Territories?’ (2018) European Human Rights Law Review 311.

5 See Governments of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man Joint Statement on the Proposed Amendments to the Financial Services (Implementation of Legislation) Bill 1 March 2019.

6 But see Edge, PWManx Public Law (Isle of Man Law Society, 1997)Google Scholar; Belchem, J (ed) A New History of the Isle of Man: The Modern Period 1830–1999 (Liverpool University Press, 2000)Google Scholar; Kermode, DGOffshore Island Politics: The Constitutional and Political Development of the Isle of Man in the Twentieth Century (Liverpool University Press, 2001)CrossRefGoogle Scholar; Kermode, DGMinisterial Government in the Isle of Man (Manx Heritage Foundation, 2008)Google Scholar.

7 But not all. See further Corbett, J and Veenendaal, WDemocracy in Small States: Persisting against All Odds (Oxford University Press, 2018) pp 92118Google Scholar.

8 For an introduction to the broader field of small state studies, see Baldwin, NDJ (ed) Legislatures of Small States: A Comparative Study (Routledge, 2013)CrossRefGoogle Scholar; Steinmetz, R and Wivel, A (eds) Small States in Europe: Challenges and Opportunities (Ashgate, 2010)Google Scholar.

9 Morris, CAttempting constitutional reform on the island microjurisdiction of Alderney’ (2018) 47(2) Common Law World Review 105 at 128CrossRefGoogle Scholar.

10 See further Dickinson, RThe Lordship of Man under the Stanleys (Chetham Society, 1998)Google Scholar.

11 PW Edge Manx Public Law (IOLMS, 1997) ch 6; Moore, AWA History of the Isle of Man (Fisher Unwin, 1900) Book ViGoogle Scholar.

12 W Sachaverell An Account of the Isle of Man (1702) Essay Three.

13 Gell, JTreatise on the Constitution of the Isle of Man (Government House, 1881)Google Scholar.

14 Lisvane Review of the Functioning of Tynwald (2016) GD 2016/0047 pp 15, 20 (hereafter Lisvane).

15 Lib Scacc, 1659.

16 RB Moore ‘The roll of the Keys’ (1956) IOMNHAS (P) V(2), 47.

17 Drinkwater to Loch, 2 February 1863 (SRO: Loch Papers, GD 268/116).

18 Isle of Man Customs and Harbours Act 1866.

19 Kermode (2001), above n 6, p 23.

20 On which see Fyson, RThe Struggle for Manx Democracy (Culture Vannin, 2016) pp 217248Google Scholar.

21 Hope to Fitzroy, 16 August 1853 (MNHL: Letterbook vi, f, 578–95).

22 Kinvig, RHThe Isle of Man: A Social, Cultural and Political History (Liverpool University Press, 1975) pp 156162Google Scholar.

23 Kermode (2001), above n 6.

24 Formally, Report of the Departmental Committee on the Constitution etc of the Isle of Man (London: HMSO, 1911)Google Scholar.

25 Petition of the House of Keys, 27 February 1907 (MacDonnell Report, Appendix I).

26 MacDonnell Report, ibid, p 21.

27 Ibid, p 22.

28 Ibid, p 22.

29 Isle of Man Constitution Act 1919, ss 6, 7.

30 See Belchem, above n 6, pp 163–164.

31 Isle of Man Constitution Act 1961, s 10(1).

32 Constitution (Amendment) Act 1978.

33 Council Proceedings, 9 January 1979, per Mr Kneale at C47.

34 Council Proceedings, 29 March 1965, at 956.

35 Constitution Act 2006, s 1.

36 Tynwald Proceedings, 19 May 2015, 132(12), at 1726.

37 Economic Policy Review Committee of Tynwald, CPRC-CM 1/14-15, 15 April 2015 at 503–505 per AR Bell, the Chief Minister.

38 Lisvane, above n 14, p 7.

39 Ibid, p 24.

40 Ibid, p 28.

41 Ibid, pp 29–30.

42 Ibid, pp 30–33.

43 Ibid, p 31.

44 Ibid, pp 31–33.

45 Ibid, p 34.

46 Ibid, pp 35–37.

47 Ibid, pp 33–34.

48 Ibid, pp 38–41.

49 Ibid, p 45.

50 Ibid, p 46.

51 Ibid, pp 50–65.

52 Ibid, p 65.

53 Ibid, p 65.

54 Final Report of the Select Committee on the Functioning of Tynwald, (2018), PP 2018/0109.

55 Tynwald Proceedings, 18 July 2018, vol 135(15) at 1809–1845.

56 Ibid, at 1810, 2246–2247.

57 Ibid, at 1841, 3769–3771.

58 House of Keys Proceedings, 16 March 2015, vol 132(13), 877 K132 at 425–426; and at 567–568.

59 Ibid, at 799–801. For the March process, see http://www.tynwald.org.im/business/hansard/20002020/k150316.pdf.

61 Standing Orders Committee, First Report 2016–2017, PP 2015/0132 at para 17.

62 Legislative Council Elections Act 2017.

63 Standing Orders Committee, Fourth Report 2016–2017, PP 2017/063 at paras 4–5.

64 Lisvane, above n 14, pp 10–12, 25, 27.

65 Ibid, p 4.

66 Ibid, p 6.

67 Ibid, p 6.

68 Standing Orders of the House of Keys, 8.3(13), revised 4 April 2017.

69 Eg Mrs Corlett, at 755 K134 at 784–791.

70 Eg Mrs Caine at 756 K134 at 840–844.

71 Miss Bettison, at 754 K134 at 767–768.

72 Tynwald Proceedings, 21 February 2018, 135(17) at 835–880.

73 Edge, PW and Pearce, CCAThe work of a religious representative in the a democratic legislature: a case study of the Lord Bishop of Sodor and Man in Tynwald, 1961–2001’ (2004) 9(2) Marburg Journal of ReligionGoogle Scholar; Edge, PW and Pearce, CCAThe development of the Lord Bishop's role in the Manx Tynwald’ (2006) 57(3) Journal of Ecclesiastical History 494CrossRefGoogle Scholar; PW Edge and CCA Pearce ‘Official religious representation in a democratic legislature: lessons from the Manx Tynwald’ (2004) Journal of Church and State 1; Pearce, CCAThe offshore establishment of religion: church and nation on the Isle of Man’ (2003) 7(2) Ecclesiastical Law Journal 62CrossRefGoogle Scholar.

74 Eg Tynwald Proceedings, above n 72, Mr Ashford at 2524–2528.

75 Tynwald Proceedings, above n 72, Mrs Beecroft at 2110–2140.

76 Eg Tynwald Proceedings, above n 72, Mrs Corlett at 2102–2104.

77 Tynwald Proceedings, above n 72, Mr Hooper at 1348.

78 Tynwald Proceedings, above n 72, Mr Cregeen at 1795–1796.

79 Tynwald Proceedings, above n 72, Mrs Caine at 3319–3320.

80 See more fully Edge, PWThe constitutional implications of the survival of the Diocese of Sodor and Man’ (2019) 20(3) Ecclesiastical Law Journal 278CrossRefGoogle Scholar.

81 Tynwald Proceedings, above n 72, at 3181–3182.

82 Tynwald Proceedings, above n 72, at 2912–2916.

83 Constitution (Legislative Council) Bill, House of Keys 4.5.82; Question to the Executive Council, Tynwald Court 14.12.82; Resolution to adopt Second Report of Select Committee on Representation of the People, House of Keys 25.1.83.

84 Tynwald Proceedings, 13.7.94, Report on Reform of the Legislative Council.

85 Keys Proceedings 23.1.01, Constitution Bill.

86 Eg Tynwald Proceedings, above n 72, Mr Shimmins, at 1269–1271.

87 Peter W Edge ‘Tynwald and the Bishop of Sodor & Man’ Law & Religion UK, 28 June 2017, http://www.lawandreligionuk.com/2017/06/29/tynwald-and-the-bishop-of-sodor-man/.

88 Eg Tynwald Proceedings, above n 72, Mr Ashford, at 1380–1389.

89 Tynwald Proceedings, above n 72, Mr Malarkey, at 2386–2391.

90 Third Report of the Select Committee on the Functioning of Tynwald, PP 2018/0018.

91 Ibid, para 13.

92 Ibid, at pp 17–18.

93 Ibid, para 16.

94 Tynwald Proceedings, above n 72, at 1271–1272.

95 Eg Tynwald Proceedings, above n 72, Mr Malarkey at 2396–2403.

96 Edge, PW and Pearce, CCAThe work of a religious representative in a democratic legislature: a case study of the Lord Bishop of Sodor and Man in Tynwald, 1961–2001’ (2005) 9(2) Marburg Journal of Religion 1719Google Scholar.

97 See primarily Council Proceedings, 12 June 2018, 135(17) at 261–327; Council Proceedings, 26 June 2018, 135(18) at 331–379.

98 See PW Edge ‘Reforming termination of pregnancy’ (1995) 3 Web Journal of Current Legal Issues.

99 88 women travelled from the Isle of Man to England for terminations in 2016.

101 Ibid, at 517–519.

103 Ibid, at 266 C135 at 202.

105 Ibid, at 377 C135 at 1885.

106 Ibid, at 378 C135 at 1895–1896.

107 Ibid, at 379 C135 at 1946–1949.

109 The President, 10 T134 at 225–226 (http://www.tynwald.org.im/business/hansard/20002020/t161004.pdf).

110 See the discussion by Mr Quayle, in the later debate at 310 K135 at 1230 (http://www.tynwald.org.im/business/hansard/20002020/k171219.pdf (accessed 28 August 2019)).

111 Council of Ministers (Amendment) Bill 2016.

112 Mr Thomas, 308 K135 at 1112–1113.

113 Ibid, at 1116–1120.

114 Mr Malarkey noted the absence of a number of MHKs, who he categorised as supporters of the motion.

115 Tynwald Proceedings, above n 72, at 1113-4; discussed further in Part 4(a) below.

116 D O'Brien ‘Bicameralism in small states: the experience of the Commonwealth Caribbean’ (2018) Journal of Imperial and Commonwealth History 1.

117 Lisvane, above n 14, p 18.

118 Ibid, p 64.

119 See Childs, SIn the absence of electoral sex quotas: regulating political parties for women's representation’ (2013) 49 Representation 401CrossRefGoogle Scholar. This applies to some, but not all, of the mechanisms outlined in https://tinyurl.com/yx9fuxxf (accessed 5 September 2019).

120 Lisvane, p 65. A more radical model, based on the proposed electoral system for Nunavut, would have had one male and one female MHK for each of the 12 constituencies. See http://www.revparl.ca/english/issue.asp?art=1135&param=164. For a wide ranging review of quota systems, see Dahlerup, DElectoral gender quotas: between equality of opportunity and equality of result’ (2007) 43 Representation 73CrossRefGoogle Scholar.

121 Lisvane, p 65.

122 Lisvane, p 65.

123 This election was the, however, also the last to be run with any single member constitutencies. See MCAllister, I and Studlar, DTElectoral systems and women's representation: a long-term perspective’ (2002) 39 Representation 3CrossRefGoogle Scholar.

124 Keys Proceedings, 12 March 2018, 134(14) at 699–703.

125 Compare this with the Legislative Council in Hong Kong, which moved from 4% in 1980 to 11% in 1991 to 16% in 2012; see further Tam, WWomen representing women? Evidence from Hong Kong's semi-democratic legislature’ (2017) 53 Representation 201CrossRefGoogle Scholar.

126 McGregor, R et al. ‘Why so few women and minorities in local politics? Incumbency and affinity voting in low information elections’ (2017) 53 Representation 135 at 136CrossRefGoogle Scholar.

127 Reported by Manx Radio at https://www.manxradio.com/news/isle-of-man-news/chief-minister-summons-new-mlcs/ (last accessed 28 August 2019).

129 See Thomson, LUnderstanding third parties at Westminster: the SNP in the 2015 parliament’ (2018) 38(4) Politics 443 at 447–450Google Scholar.

130 C MacKinnon Towards a Feminist Theory of the State (Harvard University Press, 1989) p 161.

131 Bankers Book Evidence Bill 1935 (22 January, Keys Debates 52, 51).

132 DC Doyle ‘Manx law: a contribution from the Isle of Man’ (2007) 33(4) Commonwealth Law Bulletin 671 at 679.

133 Eg Tynwald Proceedings, above n 72, Mr Baker, at 1824, 2918–2920.

136 See Edge, PWLawyers empires: the anglicisation of the Manx bar and judiciary’ (1995) 19(4) International Journal of the Legal Profession 29Google Scholar.

137 For a detailed discussion, see Morris, above n 9.

138 Hansard Report, States of Alderney Meeting 19 October 2016, Neil Harvey at 18.

139 Ibid, Neil Harvey at 19.

140 Ibid, Graham McKinley at 21.

141 Tynwald Proceedings, 19 May 2015, 132(12), at 1726.

142 Morris, above n 9, at 128.

143 Third Report, above n 90, para 31.

144 See Lowenthal, DSocial features’ in Clarke, C and Payne, T (eds) Politics, Security and Development in Small States (London: Allen and Unwin, 1987)Google Scholar.

145 Bray, M et al. Making Small Practical: The Organisation and Management of Ministries of Education in Small States (Commonwealth Secretariat, 1991)CrossRefGoogle Scholar.

146 Ibid, p 20.

147 Ibid, pp 20–21.

148 Mr Malarkey, Keys Proceedings 758 K134 at 954–980.

149 Mr Thomas, Keys Proceedings 750 K134 at 1075–1079.

150 Mr Baker, Keys Proceedings 758 K134 at 1098–1100.

151 Ms Bettison, Keys Proceedings 758 K134 at 777–778.

152 Corbett and Veenendaal, above n 7, p 174.

153 P Sutton ‘Political aspect’ in Clarke and Payne, above n 144.

154 R Johnston and I McLean Electoral Systems for the States of Jersey: Some Briefing Notes (2012) p 4.

155 On the early Keys, see Cubbon, W and Megaw, BRSThe Western Isles and the growth of the Manx parliament: the origin of the twenty-four Keys’ (1942) 5(66) Journal of the Manx Museum 67Google Scholar.

156 Vibert, FThe Rise of the Unelected: Democracy and the New Separation of Powers (Cambridge University Press, 2007)CrossRefGoogle Scholar.

157 Wolff, CFunctional Representation and Democracy in the EU: The European Commission and Social NGOs (Rowman & Littlefield, 2013)Google Scholar.

158 As has recently occurred in Guernsey: see https://www.gov.gg/referendum (last accessed 28 August 2019).

159 See Reuchamps, M and Suiter, J (eds) Constitutional Deliberative Democracy in Europe (ECPR Press, 2016)Google Scholar.