Speaker Juan Watterson has denied he banned the press from attending the Legislative Council election.

The House of Keys stat this morning to decide who should fill the five vacant seats in the upper chamber.

Our reporter was dispatched to cover the sitting, as usual.

But he has been told that the press bench was closed to the media.

The public gallery was full.

Manx Radio has its own booth so a representative from the station was there.

The Speaker denied that the press had been banned from the Legislative Council election.

He said: 'Representatives from Manx Radio and Gef the Mongoose arrived in good time to secure a seat in the public gallery.

'As was the case last year during the election process for Legislative Council, the press gallery was closed to preserve the integrity of the vote. You will note that the Secretary’s screen, showing the vote results would be visible during the result.

'For your reporter to turn up at a minute to ten expecting special treatment or a reserved seat without any notice is not fair on the staff who manage the numbers in the gallery in accordance with fire regulations.

'Either way, the press were no more banned than anyone else who turned up after the gallery was full. I would appreciate it if this could be corrected.'

Isle of Man Newspapers point out that we were given no notice about the closure of the press bench.

Our reporter arrived while the Speaker was still in his chambers - and the situation was double checked with him by a member of the clerk of Tynwald's staff.

If the press bench is to be closed then arrangements should be made to ensure the media are allowed into the sitting, by either reserving a seat in the public gallery for the press or allowing the journalist to stand at the back.