The Isle of Man won't have a new chief minister today.

After sitting for just under an hour Tynwald was unable to decide on who should fill the top job in Manx politics.

New nominations will now be sought and the Court will sit again on December 14 to resume the process.

Three candidates were on the shortlist today, Michael MHK David Cannan, Health Minister Steve Rodan and Home Affairs Minister John Shimmin.

With two people missing from the Court 16 votes were needed for any of them to be successful in their quest.

After the first ballot it seemed a close run affair with Mr Rodan receiving nine votes, Mr Shimmin and Mr Cannan eight votes each, and six spoilt papers.

A second vote saw Mr Cannan drop to seven votes, Mr Shimmin increase to ten and Mr Rodan retain his nine votes, which meant Mr Cannan was removed from contention.

The third vote, which was thought to be the final chance to reach a conclusion, failed to do so as tactics became increasingly evident with Mr Rodan remaining constant, Mr Shimmin creeping up again to eleven and eleven spoilt papers.

President Noel Cringle, who was clearly keen to see a decision reached today, then allowed a fourth vote, but to no avail. Mr Shimmin picked up one more vote from Mr Rodan, but eleven politicians still displayed a vote of no confidence in either candidate by spoiling their papers yet again.

The court then voted unanimously to suspend standing orders in order to meet again at 10.30am on 14 December to vote again. All new nominations must be in by 5pm tomorrow with the candidates' statements of policy being supplied by the close of business this Thursday.

(Pictures, left to right: John Shimmin, Steve Rodan and David Cannan).