By Carole Dennett
The Deputy Prime Minister appeared to suggest the future of the Isle of Wight Council could be uncertain, as she confirmed on Wednesday that its joint devolution bid with Hampshire, Portsmouth, and Southampton has been fast-tracked.
Elections for the IW Council have also been postponed, as have Hampshire’s, as part of what Ms Rayner called efforts to “unlock devolution and deliver reorganisation.” She argued holding elections for councils that “will not exist, and where we do not know what will replace them” would be a waste of taxpayers’ money.
The devolution deals agreed for six areas, including Hampshire and the Solent, aim to transfer powers from Whitehall to elected mayors, overseeing areas such as housing, transport, and economic development. The first elections under the new arrangements are expected in May 2026. While this involves reorganising councils with traditional two-tier systems into unitary authorities, the IW Council is already unitary, raising concerns with Isle of Wight East MP, Joe Robertson. The only other unitary authority where elections have been postponed is Thurrock, which is to be merged with adjoining councils.
He asked Ms Rayner whether reorganising the IW Council was “on the negotiating table.” Ms Rayner’s response that the Island has limitations but “nothing has been taken off the table,” did not reassure him. He said after the debate: “I am reaching out cross-party to say “No” to a mainland-based mayor. If the Government is forcing a mayor option on us, we should be negotiating hard for an Island-only mayor, with an independent IW Council, underpinned by a special deal reflecting the Island’s unique status. Any other arrangement will leave us dominated by the interests of Hampshire and its population of almost 2 million people.”
IW Council leader Phil Jordan contradicted Mr Robertson’s claims, saying none of the councils involved want to merge with the Island and asserting that the IW Council’s unique status should ensure its future is made clear once formal proposals are submitted in March. He disclosed that he has received private assurances that the IW Council would be unaffected during the negotiations from Local Government Minister Jim McMahon. He also pointed out that Ms Rayner has not been directly involved in the discussions and whilst the government has said that for efficiency unitary authorities should have a population of 500,000, far in excess of the Island’s 140,000, Ms Rayner also said on Wednesday that the figure could vary, and they would work with local areas to look at their needs.
Mr Robertson remains unconvinced, and expressed his fear that the Island’s needs would be overshadowed by Hampshire’s almost 2-million-strong population, “We are in dangerous territory,” he added. “Oral assurances whispered on the on the side are irrelevant. What matters is the formal statements in the House of Commons and decisions of the Deputy Prime Minister.
Ms Rayner concluded her speech by describing the current reforms as a “generational power shift from Whitehall to the town hall.” The important question of whether that town hall will be on the Island has yet to be answered.
Mal Butler