Martin Tod, Lib Dem candidate for the Hampshire and the Solent regional Mayor, has this week launched an online petition calling for Angela Rayner MP, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, to ‘bring forward the election of a Mayor for Hampshire and the Solent to May 2027 so that our region can have the good growth, powers and funding we so urgently need’.
‘Won’t be firing on all cylinders’
Martin Tod said,
“When the Prime Minister announced new powers for Mayors on 30th July, it was stated that every region needed to be firing on all cylinders if we wanted good growth in every postcode.
“However, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight won’t be firing on all cylinders because of the decision to delay the election of a Mayor until 2028.
“The region will miss out on millions of pounds of funding and Mayoral powers – and the good growth that can come from that – because of this decision.”
Island ‘seems to be forgotten’
Lib Dem Councillor for Bembridge, Mark Rochell, said,
“The Isle of Wight Lib Dem group fully back Mr Tod’s petition. Far too often when it comes to funding allocation our Island seems to be forgotten. We cannot allow this to happen again.
“By bringing forward the election of a Mayor to 2027 over £500,000 extra per week could be invested in the region next year. That is a phenomenal level of funding that could be doing so much good for the Island.”
‘No point rerunning the old arguments’
Councillor Rochell continued,
“No matter your views on new Mayoral regions, it is a fact that this process is taking place. With the new Prime Minister, Mayors are being given more responsibility and power day by day.
“There is no point rerunning the old arguments. It is time for us to jump on board and grab the opportunities that are available to us now, rather than sit back and wait another two years.”
Have your say
The petition to give Hampshire and the Isle of Wight a say is available on Martin Tod’s website.
News shared by Mark on behalf of Isle of Wight Liberal Democrats. Ed
