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Tynwald has narrowly rejected an MHKs plan for a referendum, which would have given voters in the Isle of Man a chance to have a say on whether the Legislative Council should be publicly elected.
After a three and a half hour debate, a motion was defeated 5-3 in the Council itself while, in the House of Keys, Speaker Steve Rodan used his casting vote against the proposal, after members were deadlocked at 10-10.
Voting on another referendum, on whether the chief minister should be popularly elected, was 12-8 against in the House of Keys and 8-nil against in the Legislative Council.
The motion was tabled by South Douglas MHK Bill Malarkey, who made it clear a 'no' vote wouldn't be the end of the matter (play audio file):
Those referendums would have been held on general election day, September 29.
Story uploaded to manxradio.com on May 18, 2011.
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