Recently, a Tynwald Committee published a report proposing changes to the way that the Chief Minister of the Isle of Man is appointed by the House of Keys. That report is available online below.
Included in that report was a survey of the views of various members of Tynwald. Unfortunately, the survey responses from the paid politicians was anonymous, with names removed. It is unclear why the names of the politicians were removed from their views.
Consequently, the Manx TaxPayers’ Alliance wrote to Juan Watterson SHK, Speaker of the House of Keys, and Chair of the Tynwald Committee, to understand why the survey responses were anonymised. As full-time political representatives, their political views and how they vote should be made available to their bosses: the people of the Isle of Man.
Representative democracy is heavily dependent upon constituents being able to identify their representatives and their stances on issues that affect us all. They serve in office as representatives of the public, and the public are entitled to know how their representatives vote on matters of public policy.
Why is Government transparency important?
Government transparency is a critical component of a functioning democracy. It allows citizens to hold their elected officials accountable for their actions and decisions. Anonymising statements and positions of MHKs in official reports obscures the accountability process, hindering constituents’ ability to make informed decisions about their representation. This lack of government transparency can lead to a disconnect between the government and the governed, fostering an environment where mistrust can thrive.
The Core of Our Concerns
Our letter to Speaker Watterson seeks to learn why the names of politicians wee removed from their survey responses. We question whether this approach was taken due to specific privacy concerns, policy reasons, or other procedural necessities that might justify such a departure from standard practice. We believe that understanding the reasons behind this decision is crucial for maintaining public trust and ensuring the robustness of our legislative framework.
Looking Forward
We eagerly await a response from the Speaker and will share any response publicly.
