By Isle of Wight Observer
Labour tried flogging off the Royal Mail in 2009. Peter Mandelson took the lead, claiming, “new management would bring a gale-force breath of fresh air.”
More than 70 Labour MPs thought differently, believing the sell-off “could harm one of Britain’s greatest public services.” Mandy couldn’t make it happen, but the Tory-LibDem coalition did. Handily, by then Lord Mandy was working for American investment bank, Lazard’s. His employers were hired by Dave Cameron as ‘advisers’ for the sale.
Privatising the things we rely on – like ferries – has never worked out well for consumers, just like those ruinously expensive PFI schemes. Electors should always be wary of politicians’ promises, especially before elections. Perhaps that’s why 60 per cent of people didn’t bother voting in Rochdale last week?
Remember Macquarie, those ‘Aussie vampires’ who once owned Wightlink? They’ve taken over Southern Water instead, and, naturally, insist they’ve “driven investment” into our clapped-out sewer system.
To preserve my sanity, I abandoned Wightlink ages ago; I use my own little boat instead. Unlike Wightlink, it’s never let me down.
My long-suffering commuter pals don’t have that choice. Regulars laugh at Wightlink’s claimed ’99 per cent’ reliability, suspecting they simply omit cancelled sailings to achieve it. Here’s an idea; why not cancel all scheduled sailings and achieve 100 per cent reliability? Should that magical number navigate its way through the complex web of companies in control through to the ultimate owners Canadian HQ, they’d be highly impressed!
Whenever we travel, we should expect the occasional hiccup, but the Island’s ferry problems go way beyond that. We’re dependent on them for every part of Island life: food, fuel, farming, raw materials, even emergency fire and health services. When things go wrong, customer care is woeful, communication usually non-existent. The lack of investment is increasingly obvious too. Several ferries are clearly nearing the end of their useful lives, and there doesn’t appear to be any plan to replace them. I hear Wightlink’s owners hope our beleaguered MP, Bob Seely, sticks around – to help them squeeze more taxpayers’ cash. Fiera – those Canadian investor/owners – want new cleaner-powered boats, but would rather keep their profits than pay for new ships, like any normal business would have to!
Last Friday, the IW Observer asked some of the prospective parliamentary candidates to share their thoughts on our ferry woes.
Predictably, after seven years of completely ignoring the problems, beleaguered Bob blamed the council. In the unlikely event he keeps his job, don’t expect any change.
Quiggers, Nick Stuart and Vix Lothian apparently favour regulation and, perhaps, even renationalisation. Now, despite my earlier assertion about the Royal Mail, and the outrageous price of a postage stamp, state ownership was rarely perfect. Nationalised industries were never efficient, were they, and we all know the IW Council’s involvement would guarantee disaster. It would be a sort of modern ‘Poseidon Adventure’ – “Man the lifeboats; it’s County Hall’s Wight Star Line.” If they ever get control, surely ‘Titanic’ would be an appropriate name for their first vessel?
Reform has similar ideas to Quiggers & co, but oddly, Joe Robertson, the East Wight Tory hopeful, talked sense. Unlike beleaguered Bob, he understands that pricing ferry services like airplane tickets, based solely on ‘demand’, is just plain wrong.
Island ferry crossings are not an optional luxury, like flying is. Joe also believes a regulator could protect us from rapacious owners, but do you trust him to deliver one?
Long term, a tunnel is the only way to provide the 24/7 mainland access we need. A fixed link would undoubtedly save lives too, but sadly, not this one. I’ll be permanently underground pushing up daisies by the time you lot see sense and vote for someone who gets on and builds one!
