Around 40 Islanders from ‘Unite the Isle of Wight Politics of Hope’ group gathered outside the Riverside Centre (the MPs office) in the bitter cold on Friday afternoon to peacefully demonstrate against the impact of the Government’s ‘austerity’ measures.
While the two hour protest was in progress, members of Unite the Isle of Wight campaign group – who have been working consistently for nine months to raise awareness of the impact of Government funding cuts – attended appointments with Isle of Wight Conservative MP, Andrew Turner at his usual Friday constituent surgery.
Summary of revelations
Following the meetings, those who saw Mr Turner shared what he’d said, causing great surprise to those demonstrating outside the Riverside Centre.
A summary of what was revealed included:
- Andrew Turner voted to cut the budget for local authorities by a quarter (including IW), because councils in the North of England were overspending
- He felt he should be looking nationally, not at the Isle of Wight
- Andrew Turner didn’t say Greg Clark would give more money, but that he would give ‘help’
- Any money that might come isn’t necessarily for public services, it could be for independent or private services
- Services such as The Adelaide and The Gouldings (day care centres) should be run by the voluntary sector, to save the council money
- The IWC were to blame for funding gap due to mis-management
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Why the MP voted for funding cuts
Following the meetings with the MP, those taking part told the group that Andrew Turner had said he’d voted for the 25% cut to local authority funding in February because Labour-run authorities in the North were spending too much money on public services.
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Surprise at Greg Clark comment
As reported over the weekend, when Andrew Turner was asked whether the visit to the Island by minister, Greg Clark, would result in the much-needed extra funding for the IWC, he stated that he’d not said Greg Clark would give more money, but had said he would give ‘help’.
Fight For the Wight
When questioned about his support for the just-launched Fight For The Wight (FFTW) campaign (launched that day by the County Press and the IWC) those who had been in the meeting told OnTheWight Mr Turner appeared confused as to the aims of the campaign.
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According to the campaign Website, the main aim is to pressure the government to give the Isle of Wight more funding for public services.
Money for private not public services
Kay Smith from Unite the Isle of Wight group told OnTheWight they’d raised the inconsistencies of Conservative Group leader, Cllr Dave Stewart.
He’d said during full council that not wanting to cut vital public services was a socialist ideology, but had at the launch of FFTW been reported by another Conservative councillor to be meeting with Greg Clark that day to ask for more money.
Kay said Mr Turner had replied,
“It wasn’t necessarily public services that could actually be private [independent] services.”
Voluntary sector should run The Gouldings
Feedback from the meetings also revealed that Mr Turner said the council should have found alternative funding for day care centres such as The Adelaide and The Gouldings.
He told them he believed those services should be run by the voluntary sector, which would free up more money for the council to be spent on statutory services.
Andrew Turner: The council to blame
In addition, on several occasions, Mr Turner openly placed the blame on the lack of funds for public services on the ‘mismanagement’ by the Isle of Wight council.
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He was challenged by one Executive member on several points and appeared confused over which duties of care for the council were statutory or discretionary.
The concern raised by those who attended the meeting was that if the MP is openly saying the IWC mismanage their budgets, what is the likelihood of Greg Clark agreeing to give them much-needed funding to provide services.
Councillors against the cuts
Those gathered included three members of the Isle of Wight council Executive, Steve Stubbings, Phil Jordan and Julia Baker Smith.
Also present from the IWC was Cllr Geoff Lumley and Unison Branch Rep Mark Chiverton.
Amongst them, residents who have been directly affected by cuts to services, including the homeless.
Podcasts with those who met Mr Turner
OnTheWight spoke with Kay Smith, Fran Heath and Maria Villa Vine who met with Mr Turner.
Listen to the podcast to hear the further detail.
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OnTheWight also spoke with Zoe Thompson who was one of those who met with Mr Turner. Her first podcast is prior to her meeting with Mr Turner, the second gives details of her meeting which included representatives from the Island’s homeless.
