Former MLC ponders low turnout
A former MLC believes several factors affected the turnout at yesterday's East Douglas by-election.
Only 30.5 per cent of the electorate went to the polls to select their new representative in the House of Keys, the winner Jon Joughin claiming victory with just 159 votes.
The seven-way split produced a close result, with Joughin 13 votes ahead of second placed Clare Bettison, and Richard Falk just one vote behind her in third place.
Last night's result saw the lowest winning number of votes in a Keys election since the first-past-the-post system was re-introduced to the Island in 1996.
David Callister, Manx Radio's former politcal correspondent, says an alarming number of people in the constituency chose to stay away:
College outlined 'fragile' financial position in letter to enterprise minister
'Stay cautious' after global disruption to Microsoft
Tiny percentage of government buildings have solar panels
Douglas East candidate says integrity of whole election has been cast into doubt'