CPA Secretary-General attends Isle of Man’s Tynwald Day Ceremony, one of the oldest continuous Parliaments in the world

The Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, Stephen Twigg, visited the Isle of Man this week to take part in the Annual Tynwald Day celebrations. The CPA Secretary-General joined Members and parliamentary staff of the House of Keys and the Legislative Council, the judiciary, local campaigners and the general public to celebrate the National Day of the Isle of Man. The Lieutenant-Governor of the Isle of Man, His Excellency Lieutenant-General Sir John Gordon Lorimer, KCB DSO MBE presided over this year’s occasion.

Usually celebrated on 5th July every year, the ancient Tynwald Day has been celebrated for over 1,000 years and involves a sitting of the Tynwald (Parliament) that takes place in the Royal Chapel of St John and outside near Tynwald Hill. Members of Parliament from Jersey, Guernsey, Wales, the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland also attended the event.

Above: The CPA Secretary-General meets with the two Presiding Officers of the Isle of Man Parliament and views a historical display ahead of the Tynwald Day 2023 main ceremony.

This year’s proceedings included the service in the Royal Chapel of St John, the Tynwald Ceremony, and the traditional processions to and from Tynwald Hill. At the sitting of the Tynwald, a number of acts were promulgated as per the Isle of Man’s Statutes.

Whilst on the Island, the CPA Secretary-General also toured the Legislative Chambers with joint CPA Isle of Man Branch President and the President of Tynwald and Legislative Council, Hon. Laurence Skelly, MLC, and met with joint CPA Isle of Man Branch President and Speaker of the House of Keys, Hon. Juan Watterson.

The CPA Secretary-General commented:

“It is a pleasure to be able to celebrate Tynwald Day with the CPA Isle of Man Branch and others. During my first official visit to the CPA Isle of Man Branch, it is excellent to be able to take part in such a special and longstanding tradition of the Commonwealth’s oldest continuous parliamentary body. It is fascinating to see the rich Manx history celebrated in modern life, showcasing principles of openness, democracy and good governance. The interaction and closeness between the Legislature (and other branches of government) on the one hand and the people on the other is striking.”

-ENDS-

The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association connects, develops, promotes and supports Parliamentarians and their staff to identify benchmarks of good governance and the implementation of the enduring values of the Commonwealth. The CPA is an international community of around 180 Commonwealth Parliaments and Legislatures working together to deepen the Commonwealth’s commitment to the highest standards of democratic governance.

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