A vote to increase Isle of Wight councillors’ basic allowances by hundreds of pounds came in the wake of considerable disagreement from different sides of the chamber.
Though full council passed a £676 increase to £10,800 this week (21st January 2026), as recommended by the Independent Remuneration Panel (IRP), nine councillors voted against and three abstained.
The approved figure is predicted to be generally in line with inflation from 2024 to 2026.
In favour of the increase
- Councillor Andrew Garratt, Parkhurst and Hunnyhill, Liberal Democrat
- Councillor Debbie Andre, Sandown North, Alliance Independent
- Councillor Joe Robertson, Bembridge, Conservative
- Councillor Geoff Brodie, Pan and Barton, Independent Socialist
- Councillor Karl Love, East Cowes, Independent
- Councillor John Nicholson, Cowes South and Northwood, Conservative
- Councillor Martin Oliver, Mountjoy and Shide, Conservative
- Councillor Clare Mosdell, Newchurch, Havenstreet and Ashey, Independent
- Councillor Paul Brading, Lake South, Conservative
- Councillor Michael Beston, Shanklin Central, Conservative
- Councillor Warren Drew, Ryde South East, Conservative
- Councillor Peter Spink, Freshwater North and Yarmouth, Empowering Islanders
- Councillor Michael Lilley, Ryde Appley and Elmfield, Liberal Democrat
- Councillor Sarah Redrup, Wootton Bridge, Liberal Democrat
- Councillor Nick Stuart, Brighstone, Calbourne and Shalfleet, Liberal Democrat
- Councillor Mark Jefferies, Wroxall, Lowtherville and Bonchurch, Alliance Independent
- Councillor Rebecca Cameron, Freshwater South, Empowering Islanders
- Councillor Bill Nigh, Lake North, Reform UK
- Councillor Caroline Gladwin, Central Rural, Reform UK
- Councillor David Adams, Nettlestone and Seaview, Independent
Against the increase
- Councillor Chris Jarman, Totland and Colwell, Empowering Islanders
- Councillor Jonathan Bacon, Brading and St Helens, Alliance Our Island
- Councillor Matthew Price, Fairlee and Whippingham, Conservative
- Councillor Vanessa Churchman, Haylands and Swanmore, Conservative
- Councillor Karen Lucioni, Ryde Monktonmead, Alliance Independent
- Councillor Paul Fuller, Cowes West and Gurnard, Alliance Independent
- Councillor Ian Stephens, Ryde West, Alliance Independent
- Councillor Ian Ward, Sandown South, Conservative
- Councillor Ed Blake, Ventnor and St Lawrence, Conservative
Abstained
- Councillor Claire Critchison, Chale, Niton and Shorwell, Alliance Green Party
- Councillor Joe Lever, Carisbrooke and Gunville, Alliance Green Party
- Councillor Phil Jordan, Ryde North West, Alliance Independent
Liberal Democrat leader Councillor Andrew Garratt, who moved a motion to support the increase, said,
“If we are to have diversity in this chamber, and we are not a diverse chamber, then we need to recognise there are financial implications to being a locally elected representative of the people, something that was done for MPs something like one hundred years ago.
“It is a difficult decision to reward ourselves, but it is right that we follow, in my view, what an independent panel has concluded – any member who is uncomfortable with that can of course renounce their allowance.”
Councillor Chris Jarman, leader of the Empowering Islanders, said,
“I do have a problem with the proposal that we have today and that is that we are all acutely aware of the difficulty this council faces financially.
“And the burden of that difficulty will not fall to the councillors who are here, it will probably not fall unduly to the councillors who are here in a few months’ time – that burden will fall to all the residents and businesses on this Island.”
Independent Socialist Councillor Geoff Brodie said,
“I read something online once that they shouldn’t be paid anymore than the minimum wage. The minimum wage from April is £12.71 an hour.
“If you do 20 hours, not my 25, over a week that works out at £10.40 an hour – that is less than 80 per cent of what the living wage is. You’re not exactly overpaying yourself when you do it – this is about encouraging people into the council.”
Councillor Bill Nigh, Reform UK’s group leader, said,
“I’m in a rather invidious position of finding myself agreeing with Councillor Brodie and I think he’s absolutely right. I have likewise reduced my working day by two days a week at the steam railway to allow me to do the extra hours for this.”
Alliance Independent Ian Stephens said,
“We’re in terrible times, desperate times. You’ve just heard from the leader about once again a lessened amount for this local authority.
“For us at this moment in time to turn around and say: well, they’re (IRP) saying we should have that…so let’s give it to ourselves, is possibly not the right time.”
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed
