By Isle of Wight Observer
Tuesday’s visit to Ryde by Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch was a textbook example of how not to engage with local communities – or even your own supporters.
The IW Observer arrived prepared to report on a serious political visit, but were side-lined in favour of national and regional media. They were given unlimited access to Ms Badenoch and their ferry fares were even paid for from party funds – but local media outlets were told we would be able to ask just two questions each – after she had finished with all other media.
We were also barred from seeing anything beyond staged photo ops. Our photographer was even stopped from following Mrs Badenoch down Union Street and along Ryde seafront, where she might have met some ‘ordinary’ Islanders.
When we were finally allowed to picture her meeting ‘local people,’ it was a group of invited Conservative activists at a business owned by Wayne Whittle, a former Tory councillor. Mrs Badenoch ignored other Islanders nearby in favour of posing for photos of her talking to party members. This wasn’t public engagement – it was a PR pantomime and we decided not to play along. We left without asking our allotted ‘two questions’.
The IW Observer was expecting meaningful dialogue between a senior politician and Islanders. Instead, we saw a tone-deaf PR exercise run by party HQ staff with no interest in transparency or the concerns of real people. We were ready to offer fair coverage of an important political visit. What we witnessed was an insult – to Islanders, to a new MP trying to represent them and even to their own members.
Many members were furious that they had not been told about the visit – despite the press being informed about it on Friday. These visits are supposed to inspire local Conservatives – instead one of their own councillors, and a previous Tory group leader has now resigned from the group.
On a brighter note, Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride sat down and engaged with our questions. He stood against Mrs Badenoch in the leadership contender. Did the Conservatives choose the right contender?
Tilly Walder