The East Wight Primary initiative is one borne out of frustration — they feel it’s important that the Isle of Wight doesn’t elect another Conservative MP and have a plan that they think has a good chance of working.
Just before the Christmas break, News OnTheWight sat down with Julie Hutchison and Charity Garnett to discuss the innovative strategy (listen below).
A time for change
All of those involved with East Wight Primary (EWP) believe it’s time the Conservatives stopped taking us for granted.
They feel it’s time for a change of government – and looking at National polls, they’re not alone. Across the UK, large numbers of people – including those who have voted to support previous versions of the Conservative Party – feel that the current guise of the Conservative government has had 13 years and it’s time that someone else was given a go.
The person most likely to beat the Conservative candidate
As they explain in the interview (listen below), Charity and Julie feel the only way to do this is for those who have similar views to cooperate to try and achieve that. They feel that people who would vote for these parties have more in common than they do with the current Conservative Party – but by people voting for different candidates – be that Lib Dem, Labour or Green – their vote is split.
By Islanders pre-selecting a People’s Champion and voting for them, the East Wight Primary team believe there’s a strong chance of beating the Conservative candidate.
The Island hasn’t always been Conservative
History shows this can happen, you only have to look back to 1997 to find Peter Brand, a Lib Dem elected as IW MP and before that Steve Ross, a Liberal, elected in 1974 and remaining IW MP for over ten years. Prior to that the elected MP switched between Liberal and Conservative.
With the IW finally getting two MPs, Julie and Charity feel there’s a special opportunity, as with the creation of the East Wight constituency there’s a chance for a new start.
The East Wight voting landscape
The East Wight area, encompassing Ryde, Seaview, St Helens, Bembridge, and extending down to Ventnor and Wroxall, will be a new voting division in the next General Election.
It will mean two constituencies, West and East in Parliament, which EWP initiative believe can lead to a fresh approach to political representation.
Political candidacies in East Wight
During our conversation, Charity points out that prospective parliamentary candidates have been declared for the Conservatives, Reform UK and the Green Party.
It’s known that Labour councillor, Richard Quigley has put himself forward to stand for the Labour Party in West Wight, although candidates for both Labour and LibDem in the East have not been named yet.
Julie and Charity believe the fragmented political landscape highlights the need for a unified tactical approach to challenge the Conservative dominance.
Concept of progressive politics
Progressive politics, as explained by Charity, seeks fairness and responsiveness to significant issues like climate change.
The group aims to align the progressive majority, which feels misrepresented under the current Conservative leadership, especially considering recent policy directions.
The East Wight Primary objective
The primary goal of East Wight Primary is to unite non-Conservative voters to elect a candidate representing progressive values.
This strategy involves selecting the most viable candidate to challenge the Conservative hold in the East Wight area.
Six local meetings
The initiative plans to hold six local meetings after the launch in February, where residents can listen to the candidates from the Labour, LibDem and Green parties, and, through a democratic process, choose the best tactical candidate.
During the interview, Julie explains how this method contrasts with traditional tactical voting, which often relies on external recommendations without any direct voter engagement.
Engaging the community
The campaign includes various engagement strategies like the ‘democracy meter’ and local meetings, encouraging participation, especially among younger and disengaged voters.
The focus is on empowering the community to take a more active role in shaping their political representation.
Challenges and opportunities
The group acknowledges the challenges in changing entrenched political behaviors and perceptions.
However, as you’ll hear on the interview below, they emphasise the potential for this initiative to foster collaboration and community spirit, which was particularly evident during the Covid-19 pandemic.
How you can get involved
East Wight Primary encourages community involvement through their website, fundraising efforts, and volunteer opportunities.
They are keen to address any queries from party members or the public, aiming for transparency and inclusivity in their approach.
Listen to the podcast
The interview concluded with an emphasis on the importance of the community’s active participation in this novel approach to tactical voting. By aligning under a unified candidate, East Wight Primary hopes to bring about significant political change in the East Wight.
Get comfy and put your feet up to listen to the full interview with Julie and Charity by clicking the play button below.
Find out more
People who are interested to get involved can find out more via the East Wight Primary website and or social media.
