Tynwald members have voted to delay the local authority elections until July 2021.
Minister for Infrastructure Tim Baker put forward a motion in today’s Extraordinary Tynwald sitting to postpone the local authority elections until July 22, rather than the previous date of April 22.
The minister said he was eager to move the date so as to enable candidates standing to be elected more time to prepare, as well as campaign door-to-door without the risk of spreading Covid-19.
Mr Baker told Tynwald members: ‘I do not believe that we should hold elections in the current climate. The whole point of local democracy is about personal engagement and the importance of links that commissioners and councillors have with their neighbours and locals.
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‘I do not think we will have a fair election if it carries on. Social media can be used for campaigns, but is not the whole of it. Going with the current date in April may deter good candidates. My motion today seeks to delay election, with no prediction on any part of the length of the lockdown, but based on the time it takes to organise an election.’
Mr Baker’s motion received a unanimous vote from Tynwald members, with Speaker Juan Watterson commenting on the powers under Section 25 of the House of Keys and Local Authorities Act: ‘I understand that it is awaiting a Day Order, and a deferral for a date for local authority elections until after HOK elections I agree with. I do accept the minister’s point that it’s overdue and there’s been a year’s delay in elections already.’
Health Minister David Ashford noted: ‘The 2012 elections were held seven months after September general elections 2011 – there were 188 candidates, which was only 16 more than in the local elections four years earlier.
‘11 local authorities were uncontested and two didn’t get enough candidates. There is always going to be additional expenditure, it will always happen. It is right to postpone, but elections have already been postponed 12 months due to the pandemic. I welcome a delayed period as short as possible – as early and safe to do so.