Tony Brown (Manx politician) facts for kids

James Anthony Brown OBE (born on January 5, 1950) is a politician and businessman from the Isle of Man. He served as the Chief Minister of the Isle of Man from 2006 to 2011. He decided to retire from his role in October 2011.

Tony Brown's Early Life and Career

Tony Brown was born on January 5, 1950. He went to Victoria Road Primary and Castle Rushen High School in Castletown. For many years, he worked as an electrician. He also owned his own business, Tony Brown Electrics, in Castletown until 2010.

Starting in Politics

In 1976, Tony Brown began his political journey. He was elected as a member of the Castletown Commissioners. These are local leaders who help run the town. By 1980, he became the chairman of the Commissioners.

In 1981, he was elected as a MHK for Castletown. An MHK is like a Member of Parliament in other countries. It means he was chosen by the people to represent them in the government.

Becoming Speaker and Chief Minister

In 2000, Tony Brown tried to become the Speaker of the House of Keys. The Speaker is like the referee in the House of Keys. They make sure meetings run smoothly. He didn't win that time, but he became the Deputy Speaker.

After the 2001 election, he was elected as the Speaker. In 2002, he also became the Deputy President of Tynwald. Tynwald is the Isle of Man's parliament. It is one of the oldest parliaments in the world!

Tony Brown was re-elected as an MHK in November 2006. After this election, he was again chosen as the Speaker. People started to wonder if he would become the Chief Minister. The Chief Minister is the head of the Isle of Man government.

At first, his name wasn't put forward. But after some votes, no one else was chosen. So, Tony Brown was nominated. On December 14, 2006, Tynwald confirmed his nomination. The Lieutenant Governor then officially made him Chief Minister. He had to stop being Speaker to take on this new role.

In 2013, Tony Brown received a special award. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). This award recognized his public and political service.

Tony Brown's Family Life

Tony Brown married Rachel Smith in 1979. They have two children together. They still live in Castletown, which is Tony's hometown.

Important Government Roles

Tony Brown held several important positions in the Isle of Man government:

• Minister of Health and Social Security, 1986–1989
• Minister of Local Government and the Environment, 1989–1994
• Minister of Tourism and Leisure, 1994–1996
• Minister of Transport, 1996–2001
• Chief Minister, 2006–2011

See also

In Spanish: Tony Brown para niños