This in from Cllr Jonathan Bacon.
The following is a statement issued on behalf of the Island Independent Group of Isle of Wight Councillors:
As the election approaches and much has been said about the role of and relationships with the Isle of Wight Council by the candidates it seems appropriate for those of us who currently form the ruling group of the Council to express our view on the forthcoming election.
Daunting task
Our view is that our new MP will have a daunting task of ahead of him or her and as such needs to be able to take forward both the necessary knowledge and experience to engage in difficult fights on behalf of the Island as well as the mental and physical ability to take this challenge on.
In our view recent political involvement at local Government level on the Island is a necessary element in being able to fight the Island’s corner.
Lobby fodder?
Being ‘Independents’ we are willing and able to work with a candidate of any party or grouping provided they, as we, have the interests of the Isle of Wight and its residents at the core of their approach.
However, we feel that the candidates of the main parties are too much at risk of being used by their party leadership as ‘lobby fodder’ whereas we must be sure that our future MP stands up for the Island when required rather than being told to step into line to support a Government or Opposition that will almost certainly be a fragile amalgam of various groups. The ability to say ‘You can have my vote but only if you will benefit my residents’ is important.
We’re supporting Ian Stephens
For these reasons we feel that Ian Stephens is the best candidate in this election and the best person to represent the Isle of Wight in Parliament after May 7th.
Our hope is that residents, when exercising their vote, will give pause for thought and not simply vote for a candidate out of tradition or loyalty but that each voter will ask themselves which candidate has the ability to be an effective voice for the Isle of Wight and has the skill, experience and understanding of the Island and its issues to take forward into Westminster.
To do any less is to do a disservice to the Island and fellow residents. Most of all we would ask that everyone exercises their right to vote as the strength of our MP will, in part, be reflected by the level of support for democracy shown at the ballot box on Thursday.”
Article edit:
Reference in the editor’s intro to Jonathan Bacon being leader of the Isle of Wight council removed. For clarity, this reference was not included in the statement forwarded by Cllr Bacon.
Image: © Isle of Wight Council
