Former Chief Minister Alfred Cannan has explained why he voted against both candidates in Tuesday’s election to choose the Isle of Man’s new political leader.
Mr Cannan, the Ayre and Michael MHK, said he wanted newly elected members to make up their own minds about who should become Chief Minister without being influenced by his vote.
His ballot was ruled invalid, as was that of Jason Moorhouse, who has since explained that he voted for both candidates because he was divided between them.
The voting system allows MHKs to vote yes or no to each candidate, with a ballot considered spoiled if a member votes the same way for both.
Mr Cannan told Isle of Man Today: ‘I voted no to both candidates. It was important that the new members made up their minds as to what they wanted without my influence.
‘Had my vote tipped the balance in favour of Chris Thomas, it would not have given him the mandate that he was seeking.
‘As it happens, he won through with a comfortable majority, and I am pleased he can move forward with broad support from both new and longer serving MHKs.’
Mr Moorhouse, who represents Arbory, Castletown and Malew, said he had considered voting for both candidates because he believed each had the ability to move the island forward.
He ultimately decided to vote yes to both, resulting in his ballot being ruled invalid.
Mr Cannan’s decision to vote no to both candidates also meant his ballot was invalid.
Following the vote, Tynwald Clerk Jonathan King told Isle of Man Today that the system had produced the correct result when the spoiled ballots were taken into account.
However, the published tally had initially listed Mr Moorhouse’s two yes votes, resulting in figures of 17 for Mr Thomas and seven for Mrs Jenkins.
Mr King said: ‘We are working to display the results of the ballot in a consistent manner.’
Mr Thomas received 16 valid votes, while Mrs Jenkins received six. The subsequent confirmation vote saw all MHKs support Mr Thomas except Mrs Jenkins and Stephen Broad.
The focus now turns to the formation of the Council of Ministers, with Mr Thomas aiming to put his team in place quickly as he begins work on his pledge for a ‘smaller, smarter and smoother government’.