IW OBSERVATIONS: Questions raised over pre‑election reporting
Carole DennettThe IW Observer is in an unexpected dispute with the BBC’s Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) after raising concerns about…
Read MoreIW OBSERVATIONS: Negative campaigning: we’re not printing it
With the IW Council elections now confirmed for May 7, the IW Observer has taken a careful look at the…
Read MoreIW OBSERVATIONS: When absence isn’t apathy
Tilly WalderThe Isle of Wight’s low school attendance figures and below-average exam results are sometimes spoken about in the same breath,…
Read MoreIW OBSERVATIONS: Isle of Wight thrown into global politics
Islanders could be forgiven for feeling somewhat startled this week, when the Isle of Wight was dragged into a discussion…
Read MoreIW OBSERVATIONS: What will it take to ‘regain trust’?
Njord Partners has finalised its acquisition of Red Funnel. Jakob Kjellberg, for the new owners, has promised to “work hard…
Read MoreIW OBSERVATIONS: London is watching…
Well, here we go again. Another report, another consultant, another invoice for council tax-payers. Richard Penn’s verdict from his 31-page…
Read MoreIW OBSERVATIONS: Should the shutters stay down?
This new school term, Cowes Enterprise College has found itself at the centre of a row over toilets; yes, toilets.…
Read MoreIW OBSERVATIONS: 164-year-old ferry company – now in need of a lifeboat!
September is traditionally when The Southampton Isle of Wight and South of England Royal Mail Steam Packet Company Limited –…
Read MoreIW OBSERVATIONS: New ferries are on their way… Eventually. Probably. Maybe.
It’s been 15 months since May 2024, when Red Funnel’s CEO, Fran Collins, announced the tender for three new vehicle…
Read MoreIW OBSERVATIONS: A visit that missed the point…
Tuesday’s visit to Ryde by Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch was a textbook example of how not to engage with local…
Read MoreIW OBSERVATIONS: Amid confidence and confusion IW councillors debate the future
Wednesday’s full council meeting was hailed as “historic” by Chairman, Cllr Karl Love. It was their final gathering before elections…
Read MoreIW OBSERVATIONS: Confused adventures in County Hall
The Isle of Wight Council hosted their second Extraordinary Full Council meeting in a month on Wednesday. It turns out…
Read MoreIsle of Wight OBSERVATIONS: Cllr Jarman – Criticism is not racism
Welcome to our new occasional column – where IW Observer writers will share their views. It’s confession time. Last week,…
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