The Speaker of the House of Keys (Manx: Loayreyder yn Chiare as Feed) is the principal officer of the House of Keys, the lower house of the Isle of Man legislature. The Speaker is elected from the membership of the house at its first sitting after an election. He is responsible for controlling the procedure of the House and for authoritative interpretation of its standing orders. He sets the business of the House and authorises the order of business of the House for each sitting.
The Speaker is an impartial member of the House and only votes on motions where the division of votes is exactly half in favour and half against. He then votes in favour of the status quo.
All Speakers from 1750 to 1898 were either members of the Moore or Taubman families or married into them. Until 1866 the Keys was non-elected.
The present Speaker is Steve Rodan, who was elected in 2006.
Before the House was elected in 1867 the role of Speaker was assumed to be for life. Thus when Edward Moore Gawne resigned in 1867 he was the first Speaker not to die in office. Since then, although it is possible to resign the Office or even now fail to be re-elected, all Speakers died in office until Sir Charles Kerruish in 1990. Since then none have died in office.
Read more about Speaker Of The House Of Keys: Chairmen of The House of The Keys, Speakers of The House of Keys, Recent Elections
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—Anne Sexton (1928–1974)
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“McCoy: That shark’s been following us ever since the surgeon died, waiting for the burial. Couldn’t I have a musket to shoot it, sir?
Fletcher Christian: Take the deck, McCoy. I’ll get the keys to the arms chest.
McCoy: Get two muskets, sir. I’d like to shoot that shark on board.”
—Talbot Jennings (1896–1985)