Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has blasted the government for delaying the first Hampshire and Solent mayoral election – which includes the Isle of Wight – accusing ministers of trying to shut voters out.
Speaking at 15:00 this afternoon, Farage launched a furious attack after ministers pushed the election back from 2026 to 2028 — a move he says is a “stitch-up” designed to keep power in Westminster and stop voters choosing someone outside the main parties. He labelled the decision “a dog’s dinner” and even called Prime Minister Keir Starmer “a despot” for signing it off.
The Solent mayor was meant to hand the region — from Portsmouth to Southampton — greater control over transport, investment and regeneration. Instead, Farage says locals are being told to “wait their turn” while the government buys itself more time.
Reform UK, which has been making gains along the south coast, insists the delay shows Labour is running scared. Farage argues that people are “fed up with being ignored,” claiming the Solent is exactly where Reform’s support is growing fastest.
Despite the two-year postponement, Reform has already confirmed its candidate: Rear Admiral Dr Chris Parry, a former Royal Navy officer turned author and strategic adviser. Parry says he wants to shake up how the Solent is run and bring “proper leadership” once the election finally takes place.
Reform believes the delay will only energise supporters who think the government is dodging a fair fight. The party has vowed to continue campaigning across the region, treating the postponement as proof that the establishment is trying to cling on.
The government argues the delay is simply to ensure the new devolved authority is set up correctly. But critics say the timing is hard to ignore — and that ministers should have stuck to the original plan.
For now, the Solent remains without the mayor it was promised, while Farage uses the controversy to fire up his base, accusing the government of ducking democracy and underestimating how angry voters really are.
Just another ploy by the idiot Farmer Harmer to subvert democracy which will rebound on him very soon.
However make no mistake the idiot responsible for the mess this country is in is not Starmer but Boris Piffle Johnson.
The Tories must never form another government no matter how bad it gets with the Socialist twerps.
That’s good from Farage. Who elected him as Reform leader? Who even gets a vote in Reform? Yer pays yer money and gets nuffink.
Farage will jump ship and sail off into the sunset
in 2029
All the Tories are defecting to Reform, so all the
Deformers who think they are voting Reform will
actually be voting Tory.
I find it comical, but if you look at many Deformers
they cannot work it out.
Bless them!
You hold views on so many different things, most of them negative, and seem generally dissatisfied with life on the IW.
I was wondering if you have ever considered putting yourself forward for election? Your thoughtful, well considered opinions could then be used for the benefit of us all. It seems a waste having such an unused talent here in our midst.
Thats because it’s a blithering idiot.
I know!
Why can’t we just have a one party system?
It works for the Chinese
We are heading to a one world Government.
Digital ID’s will be the final nail in the coffin
of what little bit of democracy we ever had.
Hello me
what does that mean
it means what I mean, you know what I mean?
So do we still get local council elections, or are we to suffer further years of the undemocratic, incompetent and dysfunctional council we are lumbered with now?
Looks like we will have to suffer the clueless lot
that we currently have.
I have thought of emigrating to the mainland but
that will be no better, al, Councils are employed by the
Government, so it won’t get any better.
Same numpties different Council.
Public sector employees have always had it easy
and they get gold plated pensions
We will miss you if you ever move to the mainland where everything is green and beautiful with none of the issues the island has, perhaps, there you will find a rest home of like minded negative people who constantly sing we will keep the red flag flying all day and pray for stalin’s second coming.
What’s the point of a mayor if we have a functional and competent council if we get a bent mayor or one that’s a member of the cult and only looks after his brothers how do you get rid of him or her
Can someone tell Nigel, we are an Island not a waterway.