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Anne Craine is gracious in defeat

Seven Manx citizens, six men and one woman, woke up as members of the House of Keys for the first time today (Friday).

In what was billed as the most important general election for decades, three government ministers - Anne Craine, Adrian Earnshaw and Martyn Quayle - lost their seats, and their jobs.

There was also a Liberal Vannin breakthrough with the election of Kate Beecroft and Zac Hall, in South Douglas and Onchan respectively, which trebled the party's size in the Keys.

There were some remarkably close contests - results that left candidates almost speechless - and a family political dynasty is continuing in Michael, with the election of David Cannan's son Alfie.

Richard Ronan is the new man leading Castletown into the future.

In the shock of the night, Treasury Minister Anne Craine lost her seat to Leonard Singer in a hard-fought contest in Ramsey.

In a reversal of the result in 2006, Mr Singer is making a return to front-line politics.

Mrs Craine (pictured) lost by just over 90 votes, but was well ahead of the rest of the pack.

Afterwards she was gracious in defeat (listen to audio file below):

Mr Singer pushed Allan Bell all the way, finishing only 77 votes behind the Island's longest serving politican.

Afterwards, he said he would put aside past animosity and work with Mr Bell.

Clip 1

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