By Isle of Wight Observer
Isle of Wight MP, Bob Seely, announced in the Mail on Sunday last weekend that he intends to bring forward legislation to strip the Duke and Duchess of Sussex of their Royal titles.
Describing his plan as the “nuclear option”, he wrote: “I believe it is time they dropped their titles – or were made to – and lived by their own talents, if they have any to speak of.” He added that he intended to present an amendment bill to the Titles Deprivation Act of 1917. Mr Seely also spoke out about the issue in December 2022.
Labour’s Richard Quigley was dismissive of the MP’s latest move. He said: “Bob Seely’s latest publicity stunt will disappoint many Islanders as they continue to struggle with the cost of living crisis, the spiralling cost of ferry travel and failing NHS. His intention to amend a 1917 law is symbolic of the era his party is trying to return us to.
“We’ve all got used to Bob’s erratic behaviour and lack of focus on the Island, but this is so tin-eared it really takes some beating. He has been an MP since 2017 and has never once put forward legislation specific to the Island. He could have used this time to get the Island deal, meaningful action on ferry costs or even addressed our GP and dentist crisis, but instead he tries to bring forward a bill that not even his own party supports.
“Maybe he’s trying to recreate the amount of publicity he received for his lockdown-breaking BBQ.”
It wasn’t only Labour that disapproved of Mr Seely’s plans locally. One longstanding Conservative member, who asked not to be named said: “Conservatives are in despair. Nationally our party is in meltdown and our local MP seems similarly out of touch with real people. He needs to think very hard about his priorities.”