It seems unlikely plans to limit election spending will be in place in time for the general election in September, after moves to progress the Representation of the People amendment bill received insufficient support at this week's sitting of the House of Keys.

Although a bid by Chief Minister Tony Brown to steer the proposals through received a majority vote, it wasn't enough to suspend standing orders, amid concern the bill was being rushed through.

Rushen MHK Juan Watterson was one of the members whose amendments would have been considered, had the vote gone Mr Brown's way.

He told James Davis there was an overriding reason why the bill didn't progress: