# 1991 Manx general election

General elections were held on the Isle of Man on the 21 November 1991 to elect members to the island's lower house: the House of Keys. Independents dominated and won 21 of the 24 seats, whilst the Manx Labour Party once again won three seats.

## Electoral system

The electoral system was changed in 1982 to single transferable vote with the Representation of the People (Preferential Voting) Act.

## Campaign

A total of 73 candidates contested the elections, of which 68 ran as independents and five as party candidates. The Manx Labour Party nominated three candidates, David Cretney, Peter Karran and Bernie May, all of whom were incumbents. The Green Party nominated two, John Rimington and Graham Joughin.

## Results

Five of the elected members were newcomers to the House of Keys.
In Douglas West, Basil Cowin and Jim Mitchell were tied in last place at the second count, resulting in them having to draw lots to determine who progressed to the third count, with Callow progressing. Two independent candidates (Edgar Quine in Ayre and Tony Brown in Castletown) were elected unopposed.
| Party | Party | FP votes | % | Seats |
| | Manx Labour Party | 3,419 | 11.23 | 3 |
| | Green Party | 180 | 0.59 | 0 |
| | Independents | 26,851 | 88.18 | 21 |
| Total | Total | 30,450 | 100.00 | 24 |
| Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | 46,007 | – | |
| Source: Manx Radio, Kermode |||||

### By constituency

Douglas East :
| Candidate | Candidate | Party | First preferences | First preferences | Subsequent counts | Subsequent counts |
| Candidate | Candidate | Party | First preferences | First preferences | 2 | 3 |
| | Dominic Delaney | Independent | 796 | 41.50 |
| | Philip Kermode | Independent | 522 | 27.22 | 610.25 | 667.25 |
| | Brenda Cannell | Independent | 306 | 15.95 | 332.25 | 400.25 |
| | Patrick Bell | Independent | 240 | 12.51 | 274.25 |
| | Alan Shea | Independent | 54 | 2.82 | 56.25 |
| Total | Total | Total | 1,918 | 100.00 | 1,273 | 1,067.5 |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | Valid votes | 1,918 | 98.46 |
| Invalid votes | Invalid votes | Invalid votes | 30 | 1.54 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 1,948 | 100.00 |
| Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | 3,678 | 52.96 |
Douglas North :
| Candidate | Candidate | Party | First preferences | First preferences | Subsequent counts | Subsequent counts | Subsequent counts | Subsequent counts | Subsequent counts | Subsequent counts | Subsequent counts | Subsequent counts | Subsequent counts |
| Candidate | Candidate | Party | First preferences | First preferences | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| | Bernie May | Manx Labour Party | 802 | 35.55 |
| | David Corlett | Independent | 370 | 16.40 | 337.2 | 380.2 | 383.2 | 392.68 | 401.68 | 414.04 | 422.34 | 443.8 | 474.8 |
| | Alan Crowe | Independent | 289 | 12.81 | 284.16 | 294.16 | 301.28 | 306.52 | 310.58 | 329.64 | 351.7 | 365.18 | 381.18 |
| | David Martin | Independent | 210 | 9.31 | 215.52 | 215.58 | 218.64 | 228.7 | 232.86 | 238 | 244.12 | 270.24 |
| | Inkerman Faragher | Independent | 160 | 7.09 | 116.12 | 168.24 | 175.3 | 190.36 | 208.66 | 218.72 |
| | Raina Chatel | Independent | 113 | 5.01 | 116.36 | 116.36 | 119.48 | 124.54 | 125.54 | 130.66 |
| | John Bell | Independent | 106 | 4.70 | 108.52 | 109.52 | 111.52 | 116.64 | 124.7 |
| | Michael Hooper | Independent | 81 | 3.59 | 82.26 | 83.26 | 87.26 | 89.32 |
| | Michael Shimmin | Independent | 57 | 2.53 | 59.27 | 61.27 | 63.27 |
| | Graham Joughin | Green Party | 47 | 2.08 | 48.5 | 49.56 |
| | Martin Nuttall | Independent | 21 | 0.93 | 21.42 |
| Total | Total | Total | 2,256 | 100.00 | 1,389.33 | 1,478.15 | 1,459.95 | 1,448.76 | 1,404.02 | 1,331.06 | 1,018.16 | 1,079.22 | 855.98 |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | Valid votes | 2,256 | 98.26 |
| Invalid votes | Invalid votes | Invalid votes | 40 | 1.74 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 2,296 | 100.00 |
| Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | 3,455 | 66.45 |
Douglas South :
| Candidate | Candidate | Party | First preferences | First preferences | Subsequent counts | Subsequent counts | Subsequent counts | Subsequent counts |
| Candidate | Candidate | Party | First preferences | First preferences | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| | David Cretney | Manx Labour Party | 1,422 | 56.99 |
| | Adrian Duggan | Independent | 479 | 19.20 | 780.2 | 792.2 | 799.4 | 860.4 |
| | Alan Connor | Independent | 310 | 12.42 | 377.8 | 384.8 | 390.8 | 422.8 |
| | Fred Kennish | Independent | 200 | 8.02 | 345.2 | 353.2 | 361 |
| | Graham Bayliss | Independent | 84 | 3.37 | 154.2 |
| Total | Total | Total | 2,495 | 100.00 | 1,657.4 | 1,530.2 | 1,551.2 | 1,283.2 |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | Valid votes | 2,495 | 97.69 |
| Invalid votes | Invalid votes | Invalid votes | 59 | 2.31 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 2,554 | 100.00 |
| Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | 4,257 | 60.00 |
Douglas West :
| Candidate | Candidate | Party | First preferences | First preferences | Subsequent counts | Subsequent counts | Subsequent counts |
| Candidate | Candidate | Party | First preferences | First preferences | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| | James Cain | Independent | 770 | 29.16 | 788 | 809 | 885 |
| | Alex Downie | Independent | 616 | 23.32 | 632 | 655 | 737 |
| | Andrew Douglas | Independent | 482 | 18.25 | 514 | 533 | 622 |
| | Charles Flynn | Independent | 279 | 10.56 | 295 | 320 |
| | Jim Mitchell | Independent | 164 | 6.21 | 178 | 196 |
| | Basil Cowin | Independent | 164 | 6.21 | 178 |
| | Richard Kennett | Independent | 98 | 3.71 |
| | Godfrey Kenyon | Independent | 68 | 2.57 |
| Total | Total | Total | 2,641 | 100.00 | 2,585 | 2,513 | 2,244 |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | Valid votes | 2,641 | 99.06 |
| Invalid votes | Invalid votes | Invalid votes | 25 | 0.94 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 2,666 | 100.00 |
| Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | 3,994 | 66.75 |
Garff :
| Candidate | Candidate | Party | First count | First count |
| Candidate | Candidate | Party | Votes | % |
| | Edgar Mann | Independent | 899 | 52.30 |
| | Stuart McKenzie | Independent | 444 | 25.83 |
| | Harry Wade | Independent | 376 | 21.87 |
| Total | Total | Total | 1,719 | 100.00 |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | Valid votes | 1,719 | 99.13 |
| Invalid votes | Invalid votes | Invalid votes | 15 | 0.87 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 1,734 | 100.00 |
| Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | 2,710 | 63.99 |
Glenfaba :
| Candidate | Candidate | Party | First count | First count |
| Candidate | Candidate | Party | Votes | % |
| | Walter Gilbey | Independent | 625 | 51.19 |
| | Robert Quayle | Independent | 485 | 39.72 |
| | Greg Jougin | Independent | 111 | 9.09 |
| Total | Total | Total | 1,221 | 100.00 |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | Valid votes | 1,221 | 99.84 |
| Invalid votes | Invalid votes | Invalid votes | 2 | 0.16 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 1,223 | 100.00 |
| Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | 1,628 | 75.12 |
Malew and Santon :
| Candidate | Candidate | Party | First preferences | First preferences |
| Candidate | Candidate | Party | First preferences | First preferences | Donald Gelling | Independent | 1,087 | 84.13 |
| | Ted Williams | Independent | 140 | 10.84 |
| | Frank Williams | Independent | 65 | 5.03 |
| Total | Total | Total | 1,292 | 100.00 |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | Valid votes | 1,292 | 99.38 |
| Invalid votes | Invalid votes | Invalid votes | 8 | 0.62 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 1,300 | 100.00 |
| Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | 1,961 | 66.29 |
Michael :
| Candidate | Candidate | Party | First count | First count |
| Candidate | Candidate | Party | Votes | % |
| | David Cannan | Independent | 1,068 | 71.25 |
| | James Curphey | Independent | 243 | 16.21 |
| | Lionel Morrey | Independent | 188 | 12.54 |
| Total | Total | Total | 1,499 | 100.00 |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | Valid votes | 1,499 | 99.27 |
| Invalid votes | Invalid votes | Invalid votes | 11 | 0.73 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 1,510 | 100.00 |
| Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | 2,005 | 75.31 |
Middle :
| Candidate | Candidate | Party | First count | First count |
| Candidate | Candidate | Party | Votes | % |
| | David North | Independent | 924 | 55.70 |
| | John Wood | Independent | 518 | 31.22 |
| | Peter Want | Independent | 159 | 9.58 |
| | Brian Walker | Independent | 58 | 3.50 |
| Total | Total | Total | 1,659 | 100.00 |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | Valid votes | 1,659 | 99.04 |
| Invalid votes | Invalid votes | Invalid votes | 16 | 0.96 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 1,675 | 100.00 |
| Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | 2,476 | 67.65 |
Onchan :
| Candidate | Candidate | Party | First preferences | First preferences | Subsequent counts | Subsequent counts | Subsequent counts |
| Candidate | Candidate | Party | First preferences | First preferences | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| | Peter Karran | Manx Labour Party | 1,195 | 29.15 |
| | Richard Corkill | Independent | 999 | 24.37 | 1,052 |
| | George Waft | Independent | 707 | 17.24 | 751 | 794 | 914 |
| | Richard Leventhorpe | Independent | 548 | 13.37 | 572 | 589 | 795 |
| | Roger Payne | Independent | 241 | 5.88 | 256 | 278 |
| | Fred Griffin | Independent | 214 | 5.22 | 220 | 227 |
| | Ken Ewart | Independent | 108 | 2.63 | 117 |
| | David Quirk | Independent | 88 | 2.15 | 97 |
| Total | Total | Total | 4,100 | 100.00 | 3,065 | 1,888 | 1,709 |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | Valid votes | 4,100 | 98.63 |
| Invalid votes | Invalid votes | Invalid votes | 57 | 1.37 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 4,157 | 100.00 |
| Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | 6,209 | 66.95 |
Peel :
| Candidate | Candidate | Party | First preferences | First preferences | Subsequent counts |
| Candidate | Candidate | Party | First preferences | First preferences | 2 |
| | Hazel Hannan | Independent | 942 | 45.16 | 1,066 |
| | Malcolm Kelly | Independent | 627 | 30.06 | 799 |
| | Fred Crowe | Independent | 517 | 24.78 |
| Total | Total | Total | 2,086 | 100.00 | 1,865 |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | Valid votes | 2,086 | 96.93 |
| Invalid votes | Invalid votes | Invalid votes | 66 | 3.07 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 2,152 | 100.00 |
| Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | 2,814 | 76.47 |
Ramsey :
| Candidate | Candidate | Party | First preferences | First preferences | Subsequent counts | Subsequent counts | Subsequent counts | Subsequent counts |
| Candidate | Candidate | Party | First preferences | First preferences | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| | Allan Bell | Independent | 1,023 | 31.16 | 1,040 | 1,072 | 1,095 |
| | Terry Groves | Independent | 909 | 27.69 | 925 | 951 | 987 | 1,032 |
| | Beryl Quine | Independent | 744 | 22.66 | 757 | 768 | 805 | 872 |
| | Bill Irving | Independent | 185 | 5.64 | 200 | 203 | 221 |
| | John Quigley | Independent | 178 | 5.42 | 182 | 194 |
| | Francie Hughes | Independent | 145 | 4.42 | 148 |
| | Oliver Hibbert | Independent | 99 | 3.02 |
| Total | Total | Total | 3,283 | 100.00 | 3,252 | 3,188 | 3,108 | 1,904 |
| Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | 4,786 | – |
Rushen :
| Candidate | Candidate | Party | First preferences | First preferences | Subsequent counts | Subsequent counts | Subsequent counts | Subsequent counts | Subsequent counts |
| Candidate | Candidate | Party | First preferences | First preferences | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| | Miles Walker | Independent | 1,488 | 34.76 |
| | John Corrin | Independent | 993 | 23.20 | 1,114.92 |
| | Noel Cringle | Independent | 520 | 12.15 | 616.64 | 633.54 | 659.35 | 717.28 | 815.38 |
| | John Orme | Independent | 478 | 11.17 | 598 | 610.22 | 659.98 | 708.16 | 768.52 |
| | Cecil Price | Independent | 322 | 7.52 | 355.92 | 361.77 | 397.29 | 458.34 |
| | Illiam Costain | Independent | 251 | 5.86 | 265.4 | 267.09 | 310.72 |
| | John Rimington | Green Party | 133 | 3.11 | 147.08 | 151.37 |
| | Peter Ray | Independent | 96 | 2.24 | 107.52 | 110.38 |
| Total | Total | Total | 4,281 | 100.00 | 3,205.48 | 2,134.37 | 2,027.34 | 1,883.78 | 1,583.9 |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | Valid votes | 4,281 | 98.12 |
| Invalid votes | Invalid votes | Invalid votes | 82 | 1.88 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 4,363 | 100.00 |
| Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | 6,034 | 72.31 |

## Afternath

Following the general election a vote was held in Tynwald to elect the Chief Minister, with 23 members voting for the continuation of Miles Walker's government, and 10 voting for Edgar Mann. Five of those opposed to the Walker administration agreed to form the Alternative Policy Group with Mann as their leader, this was intended to function as an official opposition to the government, promoting greater autonomy for the island and more government accountability.