Juan Watterson

Career Watterson was first elected to the House of Keys in 2006 aged 26 years 142 days, making him the second youngest ever elected MHK. He was appointed a political member of the Department of Local Government and the Environment and Chairman of the island's Planning Authority. Until May 2009, he had special responsibility as a "political member" for Housing (DoLGE) and Social Security within the Department of Health and Social Security (DHSS), these roles being the Manx equivalent of a junior minister in the UK. After 10 months as Chairman of the Planning Committee, he was appointed to the Department of Economic Development with special responsibility for the island's financial services sector.

He was re-elected in the 2011 General Election with 3,080 votes, the highest number of votes in the island, and the largest in Rushen since the 1986 boundary changes. He was appointed the Minister for Home Affairs, Chairman of the Communications Commission, and in 2012 became the island's first Armed Forces Champion. At 31 years 102 days, he became the youngest ever member of the Council of Ministers on his appointment as Minister for Home Affairs on 14 October 2011.

On 1 August 2016 he was appointed Honorary Colonel of the Isle of Man Army Cadet Force. In 2021, he was re-elected to the House of Keys with 2,384 votes, the largest total on the island, and re-elected unopposed as Speaker.

Election results

2006

2011

2016 In 2014, Tynwald approved recommendations from the Boundary Review Commission which saw the reform of the island's electoral boundaries.

Under the new system, the island was divided into 12 constituencies based on population, with each area represented by two members of the House of Keys.

As a result of these changes the constituency was reduced in size and lost one of its three MHKs.

2021

Personal life Watterson has been married to Helena (née Perry) since March 2010. They have a daughter and son together and live in Port St. Mary, Isle of Man.

In December 2011 he vomited on a public bus after attending the Department of Home Affairs Christmas party, shortly after giving a talk about a need for a "responsible attitude" towards drinking over the festive period. This was featured in a January 2012 edition of Private Eye, as a nominee of the "Don't Do What I Do, Do What I Say" Rotten Borough award. He later apologised for his "lapse of judgement" in "getting a little bit drunk".

Publications Tynwaldballs and Tynwaldballs 2, two collections of quotes and gaffes from the Manx parliament.