New Speaker wants to make sure MHKs 'have a voice'

Ensuring members of the House of Keys "have a voice" is an important part of being the presiding officer, the newly-selected speaker has said.

David Ashford was voted into the role at a special sitting on Tuesday following on from last Thursday's general election.

The Speaker presides over sittings of the House of Keys chamber and deputises for the President of Tynwald when necessary when the branches sit together each month.

Ashford said he was left "speechless" after being backed to take up the role and it was "really humbling".

"We've got 15 new members of the House of Keys, some of which I know from previous things, some of which I don't," he said.

"And the fact that they've been willing to put their trust in me absolutely made me speechless to be honest."

First elected as MHK for Douglas North in 2016, Ashford is now one of the longest-standing members of the Manx parliament and is a former minister for health and social care and the cabinet office.

Reflecting on his new role, he said: "I think what makes a good speaker is someone who basically acts completely impartially, who understands the procedures of the house and is willing to treat everyone equally.

"But equally the speakership I think also holds another role and that is being available to guide members to actually be there to support them."

However, he said the role had a support function as well.

"The phrase that is often quoted is the Speaker isn't just the chair of the house they are also the servant of the house and that's the way I view the speakership," he said.

"While the Speaker may interpret rules, ultimately they are there to serve the house.

"The Speaker is ultimately the guardian to ensure that all members, even minorities, are actually equally heard and that was very, very important to me."

But Ashford said being the Speaker would still allow him to be involved in debates and hold the government to account.

"In Tynwald the Speaker is just like any other political member, they have their views and I will be speaking in debates just as much as I have in any of my other roles that I've held in Tynwald," he said.

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