The Isle of Wight has had national attention quite a bit this week.
It started the week being spoken about across the country because of the wonderful costumes created on the Isle of Wight by Shademakers for the Queen’s Jubilee Pageant.
It has continued being in the news with attention focused on Isle of Wight Conservative MP, Bob Seely.
The latest round of attention came yesterday (Wednesday) when Shadow Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Lisa Nandy, questioned the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Michael Gove, about Seely’s claim in his press release that he had voted for Boris Johnson in Monday’s confidence vote, “only after discussion with senior ministers”.
Nandy: “That sounds awfully like corruption to me”
She said,
“I saw that the hon. Member for Isle of Wight (Bob Seely) said that he had voted for the Prime Minister to keep his job after receiving assurances that there would be a funding review for his council.
“I ask the Secretary of State: did he have knowledge of this? Did he sign it off? Let me say to him: that sounds awfully like corruption to me.”
Seely interjected, saying,
“The hon. Lady completely misunderstands and she gets it completely wrong. Several years ago, the Prime Minister realised that the Isle of Wight was the only island in the UK that does not have a multiplier. The Isles of Scilly get a multiplier of 1.5 and the Scottish islands get the Scottish islands needs allowance. I said to the Prime Minister, ‘Will you commit to rectifying this wrong, which is a policy flaw?’ He said ‘Yes,’ and I reminded him of that promise beforehand. Did I ask for a bag of cash? No, and it is completely untrue for her to say that, so she can get up now and apologise.”
Nandy: “This looks awfully dodgy to me”
Nandy went on to explain to the Deputy Speaker, Eleanor Laing, that she was quoting “literally and directly a quote on his Website”.
After some strong words from the Deputy Speaker, Nandy withdrew the word “corruption” and instead used the words “this looks awfully dodgy to me”.
The Speaker was annoyed at Nandy as she was looking up Bob Seely’s Website on her mobile.
You can watch the incident on Parliament TV.
Latest media attention
It was picked up by several news sources including the Daily Mail, BBC, ITV and has been on the front page of the Guardian Website since Wednesday evening, see the links below.
- Daily Mail: Lisa Nandy sparks furious Commons row after accusing Tory MP Bob Seely of ‘corruption’ over his admission that he backed Boris Johnson in confidence vote after PM agreed to look at giving his local council more money
- BBC News: Lisa Nandy asked to withdraw corruption claim against Tory MP Bob Seely
- Guardian: MP denies voting to keep Johnson in return for Isle of Wight ‘bag of cash’
- Politics: Tensions boil over during levelling up debate
- ITV: Conservative MP says he voted for Boris Johnson after council funding review promise
A week of media attention
Seely made the news earlier in the week after saying on LBC Radio ‘There are worse things to lie about’ than Partygate for Boris Johnson – ‘if he did’.
When those words were picked up by the presenter, Tom Swarbrick, who asked for clarification, Seely immediately prickled, saying,
“Please don’t try to catch me out because I don’t think it’s going to make for a particularly good conversation.”
Justification for Boris vote
Then on Tuesday Bob Seely issued a statement, giving a justification of why he voted in favour of Boris Johnson at Monday’s vote of confidence. In it he said,
“I voted that I had confidence in the Prime Minister as Leader of the Conservative Party, although not without some consideration and only after discussion with senior ministers.
“I talked again with ministers about why a fair funding package has not yet been forthcoming for the Isle of Wight Council. I have been assured they will look at this again and will do so in the very near future.”
Tweet blew up
This was picked up by Sam Coates from Sky News who tweeted,
“Tory MP tells constituents he voted for Boris Johnson after securing a review into funding for his local council.”
The tweet blew up, and then continued blowing up after Seely replied,
“Sam, FYI, promise of support to IW Council made 3 years ago to me by PM, about which I reminded Gov’t yesterday.”
The Island Deal
The outcome of a study by Portsmouth University, commissioned by the Island Independents during their administration (2013-2017), found that it cost Isle of Wight council £6.4 million more each year to provide services due to being an island.
In following years, successive administrations have called for an Island Deal, pressuring the Government to recognise the Island’s unique status.
The Prime Minister had made a promise of extra government help during the 2019 Conservative Party leadership election campaign.
No deal has been forthcoming since, despite Bob Seely reminding Boris Johnson of his promise in Parliament.
Image: © Parliament TV
