Editing Isle of Man (section)

== Politics ==
[[File:IsleOfMan LocAuths and Sheadings2020.svg|thumb|right|Local authorities and [[Local government in the Isle of Man#Sheadings|sheadings]]]]

{{Main|Politics of the Isle of Man}}
{{See also|List of political parties in the Isle of Man|Elections in the Isle of Man}}
Most Manx politicians stand for election as independents rather than as representatives of political parties. Although political parties do exist, their influence is not as strong as in the United Kingdom.

There are three political parties in the Isle of Man:
* The [[Liberal Vannin Party]] (established 2006) has one seat in the House of Keys; it promotes greater Manx autonomy and more accountability in government.
* The [[Manx Labour Party]] is active and for much of the 20th century had several MHKs. Since the 2021 general election there are two MLP members in the House of Keys, both of whom are women.
* The [[Isle of Man Green Party]] was established in 2016, but only has representation at [[Local government in the Isle of Man|local government]] level.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Isle of Man Green Party elects first councillor Andrew Bentley |work=[[BBC News]] |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-isle-of-man-45128963 |access-date=10 August 2018 |archive-date=30 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330183526/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-isle-of-man-45128963 |url-status=live}}</ref>

There are also a number of pressure groups on the island. [[Mec Vannin]] advocate the establishment of a [[sovereignty|sovereign]] [[republic]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Mec Vannin |url=http://www.mecvannin.im/ |access-date=28 February 2015 |website=Mecvannin.im |archive-date=9 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120209181627/http://www.mecvannin.im/psmenu.html |url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Positive Action Group]] campaign for three key elements to be introduced into the governance of the island: open accountable government, rigorous control of public finances and a fairer society.<ref>{{cite web |title=PAG – Positive Action Group – Isle of Man – Positive Action Group – Isle of Man – Pag, Credit, Agreement, User, February |url=http://www.positiveactiongroup.org/ |access-date=28 February 2015 |website=Positiveactiongroup.org |archive-date=21 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150321112422/http://www.positiveactiongroup.org/ |url-status=usurped}}</ref>

=== Local government ===
{{Main|Local government in the Isle of Man}}
Local government on the Isle of Man is based partly on the island's 17 ancient parishes. There are four types of local authorities:
* a [[municipal corporation|corporation]] for the [[Douglas, Isle of Man|City of Douglas]] and bodies of commissioners for the town districts of [[Castletown, Isle of Man|Castletown]], [[Peel, Isle of Man|Peel]] and [[Ramsey, Isle of Man|Ramsey]]
* the districts of [[Kirk Michael]] and [[Onchan]]
* the village districts of [[Port Erin]] and [[Port St Mary]]
* the 13 parish districts (those historic parishes, or combinations or parts of them, which do not fall within the districts previously mentioned).

Each of these districts has its own body of commissioners.

=== LGBT rights ===
{{Main|LGBT rights in the Isle of Man}}
The Isle of Man was the last place in the British Isles to legalise same-sex sexual activity. While it had been legal in England and Wales since 1967, it remained illegal in the Isle of Man until 1992.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Pidd |first=Helen |date=5 October 2015 |title=Isle of Man leader draws line under 'dark days' and aims to legalise gay marriage |url=http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/oct/05/isle-of-man-legalise-gay-marriage |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151007022234/https://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/oct/05/isle-of-man-legalise-gay-marriage |archive-date=7 October 2015 |access-date=9 August 2022 |work=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Pidd |first=Helen |date=11 February 2022 |title=Isle of Man to pardon men convicted for homosexual acts |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/feb/11/isle-of-man-pardon-men-convicted-homosexual-acts |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220211165955/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/feb/11/isle-of-man-pardon-men-convicted-homosexual-acts |archive-date=11 February 2022 |access-date=9 August 2022 |work=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref>

The Isle of Man's former Chief Minister [[Howard Quayle]] issued an "unqualified apology" to gay men convicted of same-sex offences under previous Manx laws.<ref>{{cite web |title=Isle of Man Chief Minister apologises for anti-gay laws |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-isle-of-man-51284696 |website=BBC News |access-date=19 March 2025 |date=28 January 2020 |archive-date=31 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231031175948/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-isle-of-man-51284696 |url-status=live}}</ref>