tony brown was educated at castle rushen and was an electrician. he owned "tony brown electrics" in castletown until its closure in 2010. he was elected as a member of castletown commissioners (town council) in 1976, becoming chairman in 1980 before being elected as the castletown mhk in 1981 at his first attempt. in 2000, he was defeated in his attempt to become speaker of the house of keys by david cannan but instead became the deputy speaker. following the 2001 general election, he was elected speaker and in january 2002, deputy president of tynwald.