15.1 The Isle of Man is an island situated in the Irish Sea with a population of approximately 85,000. Part of a Norse kingdom until the thirteenth century, the Lordship of Man was purchased by the English Crown in 1765. It is an internally self-governing Crown Dependency forming part of the British Isles, but not the UK. It has its own parliamentary and legal systems, while the Crown remains responsible for international relations and defence issues. The Queen’s representative on the Island is known as the Lieutenant-Governor. The Isle of Man is outside the European Union, but enjoys a special relationship under Protocol 3 of the Treaty of Accession, enabling the inhabitants to enjoy freedom of trade with EU countries. The legislature, the Tynwald, is made up of two parts: the Legislative Council and the House of Keys, the latter body having 24 elected members. The legal tender is the Manx pound, equivalent to the pound sterling.