The new Reform UK Isle of Wight councillor for Lake North, David Maclean, has finally made himself known to the Island, after speculation has been swirling.
The semi-retired tobacco dealer from Zimbabwe (which he referred to as Rhodesia), says he has been visiting the Island on holiday for the last five years (he says has a property in Island Harbour) and “loves it here”. He also thought Ventnor was “a great city”.
He thanked everyone who voted for him and said he would do everything he could for the Island and Lake North, in an interview with IW Observer on social media.
Close family bereavement
Mr Maclean was absent from the count on Friday following last Thursday’s polling for the by-election, and was also absent for swearing in process at County Hall on Tuesday.
On Wednesday Mr Maclean arrived on the Island following a close family bereavement, and spent several hours at County Hall.
Mystery solved
When Mr Maclean was absent from the count and swearing in ceremony, it led to great speculation on social media as to who he was, and what his connection to the Island was.
Some claimed that even those campaigning for Mr Maclean, had not met him.
Maclean’s background and motivations
When asked in the interview what his background was, Mr Mclean explained that he parents were Scottish, who “moved to Rhodesia” (which has been more widely known as Zimbabwe since the 1980s) after the second world war.
He said he left Zimbabwe in 1986, travelling the world with his job (a “small tobacco trading company”) and has been in the UK since 1994. He is now semi-retired.
He admitted he has no political experience, but said he has noticed a massive change since living in the UK and wants to “help make a difference where I can”.
Illegal immigration his key issue
He pointed to immigration as the most worrying change he has seen, and large reason why he joined Reform UK. His conversation appeared to some online as doom-laden, he said,
“Taxes are going up, services are dropping, standards are dropping and everything seems to be just a little bit deflated and we all kind of lack a little bit of excitement for the future.”
Asked how immigration was an issue affecting the Island, Mr Maclean said he felt illegal immigration took away from National resources, thereby affecting the Island too. He said he had no problem with legal immigration, “for the right reasons”, but added that he felt illegal immigration was a huge issue.
Ferry services
Mr Maclean did go on to say that he wanted to learn from his constituents what their key issues were, acknowledging that ferry services were a hot topic. He said it was a subject he would push further up the party.
He said the ferry companies “had something to account for” in relation to some seaside towns “becoming run down”.
Four years?
Mr Maclean ended by saying he was looking forward to getting to know the residents of Lake North and was excited to see what he could do over the next four years.
As Mr Maclean won his seat in a by-election, he’ll be up for election again in May 2026 when the Isle of Wight council elections take place.
Source: IW Observer
