Isle of Man

Priority area of work within the BIC : Digital Inclusion

Capital : Douglas

Government : The Island is a Crown Dependency which, through its ancient parliament, Tynwald, enjoys a high degree of domestic legislative and political autonomy. Dating back to Viking origins over one thousand years ago, Tynwald is the oldest legislature in the world in continuous existence. It has two branches: the House of Keys and the Legislative Council. The majority of Members sit as independents, and the virtual absence of party politics encourages a high degree of consensus. The United Kingdom Government is, by convention, responsible for the conduct of the external relations and defence of the Island.

Her Majesty the Queen as Lord of Mann is Head of State. Her personal representative on the Island is His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor, who is appointed by the Crown for a five year term.

The Island has a ministerial system of government. The political head of the Manx Government is the Chief Minister, who is nominated by Tynwald from amongst its own members and appointed by His Excellency The Lieutenant Governor. The Chief Minister selects the ministers who have responsibility for the major Government Departments and, with the Chief Minister, form the Council of Ministers, the Manx “Cabinet”.

The Isle of Man has a restricted relationship with the European Union by virtue of Protocol 3 of the Act of Accession of the UK. This extends the European Union legal regime to the Island for limited purposes, principally customs and the movement of goods. The Island neither makes nor receives any financial contribution from European Union funds.