News OnTheWight always welcomes a Letter to the Editor to share with our readers – unsurprisingly they don’t always reflect the views of this publication. If you have something you’d like to share, get in touch and of course, your considered comments are welcome below.
This from Jamie Kendrick, Totland. Ed
The Island Factor report, published way back in 2016 by the University of Portsmouth, highlighted that the Isle of Wight was being short changed by Central Government in the region of around £6.4 million a year, by virtue of simply being an offshore island and not receiving the same funded enhancement other UK islands receive.
The IW also receives far less per head of population than many other deprived areas in the UK. In short, it’s a double whammy that as a community we are unfairly subjected to.
So it is very much welcome news that our new PM, Liz Truss, has pledged to honour the Island Deal funding promise made by Boris Johnson back in the 2019, which after three years has accrued to a not insignificant overall sum of £18m, not taking into account rising inflation and interest over the period of course.
When will we get the Island Deal?
Perhaps Isle of Wight Conservative MP, Bob Seely, would be kind enough to inform us when precisely the Island will receive this money, along with whether Liz Truss will also be reviewing what the IW receives per head of population from central government, so it is more comparable with other deprived areas in the UK.
Over to you Bob.
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