Laurence Skelly

The Honourable Laurence Skelly OBE MLC
Skelly in 2021
President of Tynwald
Incumbent
Assumed office 20 July 2021

Laurence David Skelly OBE is a Manx politician, who has served as President of Tynwald since July 2021. ^[1]

Political career

He was elected as one of the three MHKs for Rushen in 2011, with 19.4% of the vote and was re-elected in 2016 as one of the two members for the new Rushen constituency following the boundary review in 2013 with 21% of the vote.

In March 2014 he was appointed Minister for Infrastructure and following the resignation of John Shimmin in July of that year was appointed Minister for Economic Development.

Following the 2016 Manx general election, Skelly considered standing as Chief Minister but decided not to do so and instead continued to hold the Economic Development portfolio within the Howard Quayle administration.

In May 2021 he stated that he will not seek re-election in the 2021 Manx General Election but stated that he would stand for the position of President of Tynwald, the apolitical presiding officer of Tynwald Court and the Legislative Council. ^[2]

In July 2021, Skelly was elected as President of Tynwald, succeeding Steve Rodan. He defeated Speaker of the House of Keys Juan Watterson by a vote of 20 to 12. ^[3]

Election results

2011

2011 Manx General Election: Rushen ^[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Independent	Juan Watterson	3,080	29.57%
	Independent	Laurence Skelly	2,021	19.40%
	Independent	Phil Gawne	1,942	18.64%
	Independent	Quintin Gill	1,722	16.53%
	Independent	John Orme	1,195	11.47%
	Independent	David Jones	457	4.39%
Total valid votes			10,417
Rejected ballots			12	0.32%
Registered electors			5,789
Turnout			3749	64.76%

2016

In 2014, Tynwald approved recommendations from the Boundary Review Commission which saw the reform of the Island's electoral boundaries.

Under the new system, the Island was divided into 12 constituencies based on population, with each area represented by two members of the House of Keys.

As a result of these changes the constituency was reduced in size and lost one of its three MHKs. ^[5]

2016 Manx General Election: Rushen ^[6]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Independent	Juan Watterson	2,087	36.19%
	Independent	Laurence Skelly	1,212	21.02%
	Independent	Mark Kemp	1,104	19.14%
	Independent	James Hampton	1,033	17.91%
	Independent	Leo Cussons	331	5.74%
Total valid votes			5,767
Rejected ballots			13	0.41%
Registered electors			5,446
Turnout			3173	58.26%

Governmental positions

• Minister for Department of Economic Development, 2014–present

References

1. "The Hon Laurence David SKELLY MLC - President of Tynwald". tynwald.org.
2. "Skelly: I won't be standing for the Keys again". www.iomtoday.co.im. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
3. "Skelly elected as new president of Tynwald". manxradio.com.
4. "House of Keys 2011 General Election Results" (PDF). Isle of Man Government.
5. "Map No. 12 RUSHEN CONSTITUENCY" (PDF). Isle of Man Government.
6. "2016 General Election - Constituency Results" (PDF). Isle of Man Government.