Conservative councillors on the Isle of Wight are sounding the alarm about the government’s proposed devolution plans, which they fear could seriously undermine the democratic rights of island residents.
The government’s ‘White Paper’, which outlines potential legislation for devolution, fails to acknowledge the Isle of Wight’s unique status and disregards the crucial issues typified by the lifeline ferry services. Additionally, there’s no mention of the Isle of Wight or it’s special circumstances in the 114-page document.
The already rushed consultation period for these critical decisions was further impacted by the government’s decision to release this document on Christmas Eve, normally a period when councillors would be spending time with their families.
Under the devolution proposal, mainland authorities may be entrusted with making important decisions about the Isle of Wight, potentially lacking the knowledge or experience to address the Island’s unique challenges. This could have a detrimental impact on planning, infrastructure, transportation and other critical island-based services.
Conservative councillors are particularly concerned about the lack of opposition from the council’s ruling Alliance group to the government’s proposal to delay the upcoming local elections in May, a move that is considered unwarranted, damaging and undemocratic.
Clare Mosdell, Leader of the Conservative Group, expressed concern, stating:
“In this scenario, ‘devolution’ for the Isle of Wight could potentially mean being merged into a larger regional authority, where decisions about our Island’s unique needs would be made by representatives with very little understanding of, or concerns for our Island community. This would directly impact the Isle of Wight’s ability to self-govern, leaving key issues unaddressed. This undemocratic process is deeply concerning for all Islanders.
“Despite full Council discussions set for 8 January ’25, the Alliance Cabinet, composed of just eight Alliance councillors, will have the power to unilaterally sign-off the ‘expression of interest’ and override the democratic wishes of the full council.
“We are England’s only physically separated county and this proposed amalgamation could see the Island’s representation in a combined authority reduced to a mere 7%.
“Effectively, our Island’s representation and democracy is only set to lose from this proposal, with no qualifiable net gain. Without the May elections, the Isle of Wight Council will have no mandate to see through any proposed changes, a fact that can’t be ignored.”
The Conservative Group is supportive of the amendments proposed by Councillor Geoff Brodie, such as advocating for a joint expression of interest with other councils, preserving the Island’s historic self-governance, and exploring Solent-area-only unitary authority options if broader proposals fail to respect the Island’s status.