Women in Tynwald
House of Keys
Women have been able to stand for election to the House of Keys since 1919, when universal adult suffrage was introduced.
The first woman to be elected was Mrs Marion Shimmin at a by-election in 1933 caused by the death of her husband Christopher. Mrs Shimmin was elected unopposed.
Five women were elected to the Keys in the 2016 election. This is
the highest number of women MHKs at any one time. For a short period between January 1975 and November 1976 there were four women Members of the House.
Legislative Council
Women have also been able to stand for election to the Legislative Council since 1919, when the membership of the Council was reformed to include four indirectly elected Members.
Betty Hanson, a former MHK, was the first woman to be elected to the Legislative Council in 1982. From then until 2018, three other women served as MLCs: Clare Christian from 1993 to 2011, Pamela Crowe from 2003 to 2008, and Jane Poole-Wilson from 2017 to 2018. Mrs Poole-Wilson was the first woman MLC who had not previously been an MHK.
Five women were elected to the Council in 2018. This is the highest number of women MLCs at any one time.
Presiding Officers
In 2011, Clare Christian, a former MHK and sitting MLC, was elected as President of Tynwald.
There has not yet been a Madam Speaker of the House of Keys, but Hazel Hannan served as Deputy Speaker between 2004 and 2006.
Profiles
Click the names of the Members below to read about the women who have served as MHKs and MLCs. Members are listed chronologically, in the order in which they were sworn into office.
Read more about the changes in legislation that allowed women to stand for election:
Votes for Women
Read more about the changes in legislation that allowed women to Vote in an election:
Votes for Women