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First female MHK sworn in 90 years ago today

Marion Shimmin was MHK for Peel

Today marks 90 years since the first woman was sworn in to become a Member of the House of Keys.

Marion Shimmin was born in Manchester in 1879, and led a distinguished political career as MHK for Peel.

She first supported and helped her husband Christopher Shimmin get elected as MHK three times and encouraged him to expose unfair practices against the working people of Peel. 

After the death of Christopher in 1933, she herself was elected.

She then took up important positions within Tynwald to fight for social reform.

You can read more about her life on the Culture Vannin website.

The anniversary was marked at today's sitting by Speaker Juan Watterson:

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