Thanks to Isle of Wight Youth MP, Robert Selby for this report of his latest meeting with Isle of Wight MP, Andrew Turner. In his own words. Ed
21 February: Meeting with Andrew Turner MP at his office in the Riverside Centre
I arrived at 10am and sat in the corridor. He was in a meeting, so I waited. One of his staff, who was very nice, brought me a cup of tea. I eventually went into his new office, which was rather cramped and his dog was sitting on the floor.
First we discussed why he voted against both lowering the voting age (where he called me and asked for my opinion) and equal marriage, ‘It may be because I’m a conservative’. Then we came on to the matter of the Council budget, which was presented at the last youth council meeting.
Extending half fare to 21
He said that he supported the Council’s investment into the Solent Ocean Energy Centre, and that education was the most important issue facing the council, and the Island.
I talked to him about Southern Vectis, and the possibility of extending the half fare to 21, therefore those who stay on the Island to finish apprenticeships will not be crippled by bus fares.
I felt I put my case across well, it was a very useful meeting, made even more so by the prospect of shadowing him, which means I will spend a day at his office in the House of Commons.
Ecoisland Green Deal?
He then invited me to go to the Ecoisland Green Deal launch at the Isle of Wight College.
We arrived at the college at 11:30am. There were around 60 people there, almost all businessmen.
David Green, CEO of Ecoisland, was talking about the Green Deal, and it is basically a loan, which enables homeowners to make their own homes more energy efficient and eco-friendly.
I immediately began to think how will Islanders be able to pay for this loan? It would be like getting a second mortgage! And after watching all of the YouTube adverts, and charts, and projections, one began to wonder what the true motivation of Ecoisland is, does it want to encourage the wider use of green energy? Or does it want to make a profit for its shareholders?
There were no environmental groups there at all.
