Bishop's vote about 'more than one person'

The Isle of Man's bishop has said the moves to remove to position's vote in the parliament touched upon "questions far deeper than just one person's role or office".

The House of Keys will once again consider aspects of the Constitution Bill 2023 -which would see the seat retained but the vote removed - on Tuesday, with supporters arguing the current situation is outdated and undemocratic.

Patricia Hillas, who was installed as the 88th Bishop of Sodor and Man in November 2024, said Constitution Bill 2023 itself was "very short", she said, the implications of it were "very far-reaching".

"It really asks what kind of relationship we wish to have between our history, our governance, our constitution and our shared vision for the nation," she said.

Brought forward as a private member's bill by Lawrie Hooper MHK, the proposed changes would initially have applied to the current bishop.

However, an amendment approved by the Legislative Council during its deliberations would instead see the vote removed from whoever succeeds her.

The island's bishop automatically holds a seat in the upper chamber of Tynwald, and plays a full role in the scrutiny of legislation and Tynwald debates.

The Bishop said it was an "office that's been woven into Manx law and identity for centuries", and votes cast were "independent and apolitical".

She said the bishop's contribution during "hard" debates could "create a space where we're not polarised" by bringing forward non-partisan views.

The Bishop said the island was "distinctive amongst nations for its balance between continuity and change" and the removal of the vote would see a symbol of that distinctiveness lost.

A recent report compiled by a committee of MLCs about the implications of the change highlighted the possibility of the island being incorporated into a larger diocese should the vote be removed.

The Bishop said while some had labelled that "a threat", she saw it more as "a serious expression of risk" as the island's population was a "fraction" of that of other dioceses.

Having a Manx bishop meant that the island would be promoted "far beyond the UK, with nations which are part of the wider Anglican communion", something that would not be the same if the role disappeared, she added.

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