Our thanks to Joe Robertson, Conservative MP for Isle of Wight East, for sharing with readers his reflection of the past year and hopes for 2025. Ed
With Christmas over and just a few days left of 2024 it is a good time to reflect on the last year. At the beginning of 2024 I suspect most people – including me – anticipated an Autumn General Election. The then Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had other ideas and on 5th July we had a new Parliament.
For the first time the Island elected two MPs and I was fortunate enough to become Member of Parliament for the new Isle of Wight East constituency. For the first time, the Island returned a Labour MP for West Wight.
Working together for the good of the whole Island
I know that some people had concerns that with two MPs there would be scope for disagreement, particularly if the two MPs came from different parties which was the outcome we got.
I hope that in the first six months Richard Quigley and I have been able to show that it is perfectly possible to work together for the good of the whole Island while representing our own constituencies. It is possible to disagree on national issues – our Parliamentary voting record shows that we have done so on many occasions – but join forces locally where necessary.
Collaboration
One such issue where joint working is required is the ferries. There is an overwhelming consensus that cross-Solent travel is too expensive and too unreliable.
I have taken a clear position that we need Government intervention because the ferry operators will not make the scale of change needed on their own. Their primary duty is to their holding companies and shareholders, not Island residents.
The private, unregulated, cross-Solent transport model is broken. There is a common principle in UK public transport that the taxpayer makes a contribution because infrastructure is expensive.
This is true of rail, buses and Scottish ferries. While the Labour Government is shaking up UK transport and extending the role of the state – by taking the railways into public ownership and spending £1 billion of public money on buses – all I am asking is that the Government creates a role for itself in cross-Solent transport too.
There is no reason why the Isle of Wight should remain an outlier in the way we do public transport in this country, with the private sector operating without restraint.
Social care
Another issue I have been spending a lot of time on is health and social care. I was elected to the cross-Party Select Committee and before Christmas we questioned the Secretary of State Wes Streeting.
I have spoken in the House of Commons on a number of occasions in support of GPs, dentistry, community pharmacy, hospices and social care, particularly following the rises in national insurance contributions for all these providers which does not apply top the NHS.
Our Committee is undertaking a report into Social Care in order to try and persuade the Government to act and act quickly. Successive governments have kicked the can down the road over several decades but the beginning of a new Parliament with a new Secretary of State is always a good opportunity to try and drive through change so that Social Care is properly resourced and helps relieve pressure on the NHS.
Local focus
Locally, I have been pleased to visit a wide range of charities and organisations that do so much to help Island residents in need.
Aspire are part way through converting their new premises in Ryde to include accommodation for women in need of support.
Better Days café in Ventnor provides a warm space and food throughout the year, as well as support with benefit applications.
I have also visited and seen the amazing work done by Sandown Warm Spaces, Men’s Shed, Ryde Christmas Stocking Appeal, Shanklin TC’s Youth Club, Isle of Wight Youth Trust, Child of Wight Awards, Community Action Isle of Wight and Mountbatten Hospice, to name a few.
The coming year
Looking ahead to next year, education and the local economy are going to be important.
We also have the possibility of the Government imposing mandatory housebuilding targets on the Island and the possible amalgamation of the Isle of Wight Council with part of the mainland.
I will be opposing any top down plans which do not have local consent.
Please get in touch with any issues or concerns, or to book a MP surgery appointment: [email protected].
I wish to take this opportunity to wish everyone a very happy New Year 2025!
