The vacant seat on the Legislative Council remains empty, after a third round of voting in the House of Keys this afternoon.

All four candidates fell well short of the 13 votes required, with retired chartered accountant and former Laxey commissioner David Owens topping the poll on seven, at the first attempt.

Leonard Singer, who returned to the fray after holding back last time, got six and the other "new" candidate, bank official and Ramsey commissioner Richard Radcliffe, was a further vote behind.

Peel commissioner John Lightfoot, who was second out of three candidates when the first seat was filled earlier this month, saw his support slump from eight votes to two.

Nominations for a fourth round of voting must be in by close of business this Friday, March 2.
The next attempt to fill the seat will be at the sitting of the House of Keys on Tuesday, March 13.

(Images, left to right: Leonard Singer; the Legislative Council in session; legislative buildings in Douglas, from manxscenes.com).