Island voices ignored MP tells government

Isle of Wight East MP, Joe Robertson, has launched a scathing attack on government plans to merge the Island with Hampshire under a new combined mayoral authority, calling the proposal “offensive” and warning it risks sidelining Islanders.

Speaking in the House of Commons on Tuesday, Mr Robertson explained: “I support the principle of devolution and empowerment – two of the words on the face of the Bill – but this Bill is about centralisation and disempowerment.”

Under the proposals, the Isle of Wight would be merged with Hampshire into a combined mayoral authority, where 93 per cent of the population would live on the mainland, although the Isle of Wight Council would remain as part of the plans.

“There is no empowerment, because Island people will not have a say,” he said. “This Government do not respect my constituents enough to ask them whether they are happy to be fused with a much, much larger county that sits across the water.”

Mr Robertson warned that the Mayor, who would be elected largely by Hampshire voters, would gain powers over strategic planning, and could increase housing allocations on the Island. He also objected to the proposed name “Hampshire and Solent,” saying it could remove the county name from key services “without anyone on the Isle of Wight having a say.”

During his speech he criticised the lack of ferry regulation in the Mayor’s transport powers: “Solent is in the name of the combined authority, but the mayor will get no powers over ferries. Our ferries are the only unregulated, entirely privatised, foreign-owned, debt-laden key transport provider in the UK.”

Mr Robertson also raised concerns about funding, warning: “There is no special provision in the Bill to ensure there is ringfenced funding for the Isle of Wight that cannot be raided for Hampshire.” He drew parallels with recent funding decisions by the Integrated Care Board, accusing it of diverting money from Mountbatten Hospice to mainland facilities. “This deal needs safeguards,” he added. “Otherwise, the Island risks being defunded and forgotten.”