The gaping divide between Island MPs on the government’s devolution vision shows no signs of narrowing following news of delayed Isle of Wight elections.
In light of the Isle of Wight’s inclusion in Whitehall’s fast track devolution programme yesterday (Wednesday), MP for IW East, Joe Robertson (Conservative) and MP for IW West, Richard Quigley (Labour) offered markedly differing verdicts on what Islanders can expect.
Joining the programme
The government said the six areas joining the programme – Cumbria, Cheshire and Warrington, Norfolk and Suffolk, Greater Essex, Sussex and Brighton and Hampshire and Solent – will get ‘sweeping new powers’.
The programme will put them on the fast track to deliver ‘growth, opportunities, transport and housing for local communities’.
Quigley: It’ll give us a bigger say in the Island’s future
Mr Quigley, who is also the current IW councillor for Cowes North, said,
“Yesterday’s announcement shows the government is serious about delivering change, and giving greater control to communities like ours.
“The Isle of Wight Council is rightly working to ensure Islanders get the best deal. Being part of the priority programme for devolution will give us a voice, and it’ll give us a bigger say in the Island’s future.
“I appreciate there has been some concern over the postponement of local elections, but it should allow council officers the time and resources needed to focus on planning for devolution and opportunities that lie ahead.”
Robertson: The very existence of the Isle of Wight Council is now under threat
In contrast, Joe Robertson, the current IW councillor for Bembridge, said yesterday,
“The very existence of the Isle of Wight Council is now under threat. This is no longer just about a shared mayor with Hampshire, but whether we merge our own council with part of the mainland.
“The Deputy Prime Minister was very clear that local elections are only being cancelled in places where the local council may cease to exist after the negotiations.
“She confirmed the Isle of Wight is one of those councils. When I asked specifically if reorganising the Isle of Wight Council was part of the negotiations, she replied: nothing is off the table.”
Rayner: We are not in the business of holding elections to bodies that will not exist
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said yesterday that a delayed elections decision had only been agreed in places “central to our manifesto promise to deliver devolution” after “careful consideration”.
She told the House of Commons,
“We are not in the business of holding elections to bodies that will not exist, and where we do not know what will replace them.
“This would be an expensive and irresponsible waste of taxpayers’ money, and any party calling for those elections to go ahead must explain how this waste would be justifiable.
“To that end, I have agreed to postpone local elections in East Sussex and West Sussex, in Essex and Thurrock, in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, and in Norfolk and Suffolk.”
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
