Garff MHK Daphne Caine has reopened the debate on how the island’s Chief Minister is elected.

Changes made after the last election mean that only the House of Keys will elect the island’s political chief rather than Tynwald as a whole.

At the moment, Mrs Caine indicates she is not seeking to introduce a motion to Tynwald, but rather is wanting to open up the debate to informally seek public opinion.

Speaking to the Manx Independent, Mrs Caine said: ’There is, amongst some quarters, a perceived democratic deficit that the Isle of Man people don’t get to vote for the government that governs for five years.

’So it boils down to whether you feel the people should have that option or in our parliamentary democracy it is right, as we have now changed legislation, that only the MHKs elect the Chief Minister.’

Mrs Caine admits that she might not have the support inside Tynwald for such a move, but she is using her website and social media as a quasi public consultation.

She is asking people to read an eight page report by Professor Jennifer Corrin (The University of Queensland Law School), Professor Peter Edge of Oxford Brookes University and Professor Claire de Than (Jersey Law Commission).

They produced a paper explaining the system of electing the head of government in the Pacific state of Kiribati and suggesting the potential for a similar system in the Isle of Man.

Mrs Caine said: ’This report examines the unique arrangements for the appointment and removal of the President of the Pacific state of Kiribati, in the context of political, historical and social factors.

’It outlines the potential for similar mechanisms to be introduced in the Isle of Man, while remaining aware of the significance of the constitutional, geographical and cultural differences between the two jurisdictions.’

She noted that if the island had a more party based political system, then the issue of a mandate to govern could be resolved as the party with the most seats would be able to secure its leader the role of Chief Minister.

Mrs Caine said that if the public were to elect the Chief Minister, nominations would come from within Tynwald with members required to get a set number of nominations from MHKs.

Those nominees would then be able to lay out their plans for the island and then face a public vote.

The report can be found online at http://daphnecaine.im/

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