Joe Robertson, Conservative Member of Parliament for Isle of Wight East, has today (Thursday) called on Isle of Wight Council Leader Phil Jordan and his Cabinet to respect the decision of Full Council by rejecting the Labour Government’s fast-tracked proposal for a mainland-based Mayor with jurisdiction over the Island.
Following yesterday’s Full Council meeting, where the majority of voting Councillors said no to joining the Government’s priority scheme, Robertson outlined his concerns in an open letter (see below).
He emphasised the risk of powers disappearing off the Island and a lack of clear benefits for Islanders. The proposal from Government would see the Isle of Wight joining with Hampshire, Portsmouth, and Southampton, with possible expansion to Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole to elect a joint Mayor.
Mr Robertson says the Isle of Wight would make up just 7% of the combined population and says it is “fanciful” to think we would get substantially more than 7% of the money the Mayor has available to spend – a figure which remains unclear.
The MP’s letter also highlights concerns about existing Isle of Wight Council powers being transferred to the mainland-based Mayor,
“The current proposal takes some powers away from the Isle of Wight Council and gives them to the Mayor. It is not just a devolution proposal – it is about the centralisation of our existing powers too. One of those existing powers is for strategic planning and our ability to decide how many homes we build on the Island and where.
“We know that the Labour Government wants us to build over 1,000 houses a year on the Island (we currently build around 300). We cannot give any power away to a Mayor representing a largely mainland constituency to make these decision with Government.”
The letter goes on to say that no Councillor has a mandate to give away powers and impose a Hampshire based Mayor on Island residents,
“If it is something you and your Alliance Group wish to do you should seek a mandate from Isle of Wight residents at the May 2025 local elections rather than delaying the elections to 2026 so that you can get this scheme through first. If the Isle of Wight does not proceed with the priority scheme now, the Deputy Prime Minister has been clear that we can join later in the year. This is not the last opportunity to consider a better Mayor proposal.”
The vote by Full Council yesterday was non-binding. The Council’s Cabinet of eight Alliance/Independent Councillors will make the formal decision at 5pm this evening.
News shared by the office of Joe Robertson, in their own words. Ed
Catch up on the latest in relation to the Devolution plans by accessing OnTheWight’s Solent Devolution archive. Ed
