By Carole Dennett
The campaign for government action on cross‑Solent ferry services took a potentially significant turn this week, when IW East MP, Joe Robertson, raised the issue directly with new Prime Minister, Andy Burnham. In the Commons on Tuesday, Mr Robertson asked whether the PM would consider regulatory powers to control ferry prices. Mr Burnham responded, as no Prime Minister has before: “Bring me a proposal. I will look seriously at it… I understand completely how critical that is to opportunity and growth on the Island,” he said.
Mr Robertson argues that years of declining reliability, reduced timetables, and soaring prices have left the Island uniquely exposed to “unfettered private equity control”. His exchange with the PM suggests the Government may be more willing than its predecessors to consider regulation. With two Island MPs – Mr Robertson, Conservative, and IW West MP, Richard Quigley, Labour – ferry companies could now face pressure from both government and opposition benches.
Mr Quigley worked closely with Louise Haigh when she was Transport Secretary to ensure she understood the Island’s concerns. She is a trusted ally of Mr Burnham and known to be sympathetic to the long‑standing cross‑Solent issues. Her new role as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster gives her oversight of government policy and cross‑departmental priorities. Support for significant reform may extend well beyond the back benches.
Concerns supported by data
In July, Mr Robertson revealed he had received a letter restricting what he could raise at forthcoming Department for Transport round‑table meetings, including ticketing, reliability, ownership models, and data going back more than a decade. He told MPs: “The world didn’t start in 2016,” and Maritime Minister, Keir Mather, agreed historic evidence – particularly around dynamic pricing – should inform discussions.
After Tuesday’s exchange, Mr Robertson wrote to the Prime Minister setting out the case for regulation, describing the Island as “the only community in the UK entirely reliant on uncontrolled, unaccountable private equity groups for lifeline transport connectivity”, adding the situation had “got worse, not better” and calling dynamic pricing “a corrosive development”. He suggested regulatory powers could sit with the Government or a Solent mayor. With the next election due in 2029 a government seeking re‑election may see action as a vote‑winning policy.
The MPs’ concerns are backed by hard data. The last official examination of cross‑Solent services – the 2009 Office of Fair Trading (OFT) report – shortly after dynamic pricing was introduced, shows there have been significant falls in service regularity. Wightlink’s Portsmouth–Fishbourne route has dropped from 37 daily departures to 25.
Red Funnel’s Red Jet has fallen from 32 to 21 on weekdays and just 14 on Sundays. Punctuality reporting is also believed to have changed, masking poorer outcomes. Although the OFT concluded in 2009 that declines “did not appear to be part of a long‑term trend”, current data shows otherwise.
Concerns were serious enough in 2009 that “the threshold was met” for further action, but the OFT chose not to proceed. Prices, reliability, and regularity have all worsened since. The report relied on evidence from many sources, including confidential submissions from ferry companies, making its findings difficult to dispute. And the Maritime Minister’s acceptance that data older than 10 years can be used opens the door to a more thorough examination of the market than previously envisaged.
Will ferry companies fight regulation?
As Mayor of Greater Manchester, Mr Burnham introduced the Bee Network, reclaiming bus routes from private operators without compensation, and franchising them in open competition. Legal challenges failed. It is a clear example of how legislation can reshape transport structures when governments choose to act on markets that are not working in the public interest.
Mr Robertson said: “We now need to do everything we can, working locally and nationally, cross party, to ensure that the unique injustice of unfettered private equity control of access to our Island is a thing of the past.”
Mr Quigley echoed his views: “I’m really pleased that Joe raised the ferries with the Prime Minister, as I did during my meeting with him in July,” he said. “We always promised to put aside party differences to work towards better ferry services, and this is proof of that in action.
“The Prime Minister has made it clear that he is willing to look at regulation – that is an important step forward. Joe and I will continue working together, alongside the council and others who care deeply about the Island, to develop a proposal to help tackle our ferry problems.
“Manchester’s Bee Network has shown what can be achieved when government is prepared to back the reforms local communities need. Islanders deserve that same ambition and bold approach.
“In the meantime, I will continue pressing this issue within government. This week I held my regular ferry meeting with the Maritime Minister, and I will be discussing government oversight with Louise Haigh.”
With monthly ferry round‑table meetings due to begin later this month, previous attempts to limit discussion appear unworkable, and both Island MPs will now work on proposals to put before the Prime Minister.
As always with government, nothing will happen immediately. But if the new Prime Minister is serious about supporting change, the ferry companies may find that resisting regulation could bring about even more serious challenges to their long‑standing duopoly.
