On Tuesday, East Wight MP, Joe Robertson, met with the new Maritime Minister, Keir Mather MP, to keep the case for ferry regulation firmly on the table as part of ongoing negotiations with Government. It follows a separate meeting between the Minister and West Wight MP, Richard Quigley, last week.

In April, previous Maritime Minister, Mike Kane, met with the Island’s MPs and ferry representatives in Cowes and promised to set up a Department for Transport (DfT) led task force to look into making improvements to ferry services. The Prime Minister had already said Isle of Wight ferries had “not been good enough”.

Mr Mather was quick to agree to meet with both MPs to pick up on the work left by his predecessor.

Speaking after the meeting, Mr Robertson said, “I am confident the new Minister understands the problem. We are the only part of the UK completely beholden to unregulated private equity firms for essential travel. We are not asking for special treatment – we are asking to be taken out of uniquely unfair treatment which has led to astronomical prices, dwindling timetables and unreliable services.

“If the DfT does not want to administer new ferry regulations, then powers can be handed to the new Mayor for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. I have tabled an amendment to the English Devolution Bill for that purpose.”

The Island’s Conservative and Labour MPs have been working cross-party on the ferry issues since they were elected in July 2024.

Mr Robertson added, “The Minister understands there is political consensus on this issue and we are all working together. This is not a case of me bashing the Labour Government. I want it to succeed on this issue, but it must act. It cannot do nothing with our ferry problem while it is intervening in trains, buses and other essential transport nationally. The Minister agreed to regular meetings with Richard Quigley and me together in the future, which is very welcome.”