Leader of the Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch, has returned to the Isle of Wight for the second time in less than a year, meeting business owners, residents and local Conservative representatives to discuss key challenges facing the area.
During her visit today (Tuesday), Badenoch was joined by Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer Sir Mel Stride, Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones and Isle of Wight East MP Joe Robertson – who helped organise the visit.
The Leader of the Opposition spoke to business owners in Ryde’s Victoria Arcade before heading down to Big Kahuna on North Walk, where she was given a whippy-serving masterclass by former Conservative Councillor Wayne Whittle.

Kemi then spoke to members of the public before completing interviews with local and national press, including with GB News’ Political Editor Christopher Hope.
When questioned on Joe Robertson’s first year in office, Kemi was praiseful, saying:
“Joe (Isle of Wight East MP) is doing a fantastic job. I’ve had several visits to the Isle of Wight and I’ve been introduced to a host of people and businesses.
“The key thing for us to hear from local people and find out what they are experiencing. Ferries are a huge issue and when I spoke to people they mentioned that they want to see people being able to come to the Island and spend lots of money here.
“Tourism is down, 5% every year and there is a real problem with the ferries and Joe has been right at the heart of championing this area, asking questions at PMQs and getting the Prime Minister to pay attention to what is going on here.”
This is Kemi’s second Island visit in 10 months following her trip to Shanklin Conservative Club back in October, as previously reported by Island Echo.

Speaking to Island Echo about how the Conservatives are going to win back the trust of Island voters, amid a Reform uprising, Kemi said:
“What I need to do is make sure that the Conservative’s are the best possible option. Lots of other parties will make promises but they have no idea how they are going to deliver them. We are the party that says what we mean.
“We know that people rejected the Conservative’s in the West of the Island but over here they still doted for Joe and we want to make sure they understand what the Conservative Party is about.
“Pensioners here say they are worried that the Island is getting older and older. They want to see more young people start a family here, buy a home and they want to see the future and not just the past.”





























































































F off, we don’t want tories here.
Seconded.
Waste of time. Tories are only in it for what they can get.
oh god,..
it’s not as if she’s almost Badenough when she’s in London
“Joe has been right at the heart of championing this area, asking questions at PMQs and getting the Prime Minister to pay attention to what is going on here.”
How is it then when the previous CONservative MP tried to talk to the then-in-power CONservative government, about the state of the ferries,.. we was told to shut-up, because (to paraphrase) “us Tories like companies the make massive profits out of consumers who have no choice” …
Why is it now, when it’s someone else’s responsibility, that she petends to be interested?
you can bet that if the Tories ever do get back into power, they’ll change their tune once again, and be all in favour of the ferry companies again….
I sort of like her but its too late they ALL talk the talk but they were in power for 14 years..this country should of been a bloody great country..now its total shit with this wanker and his useless fucking awful shit government..Im afraid now tories and labour are done in the gutter for a very long time ..reform..most probably going to be shit too but the damage we have all seen and been poor by it all is going to cost them for a very long time….
You’d better lick that Ice Cream, quick, otherwise Liebour will be taxing you for emitting CO2 gases.
“Lots of other parties will make promises, but they have no idea how they are going to deliver them. We are the party that says what we mean.”
That is simply it. When Sunak was in Leadership, he made many promises, with no idea of how to achieve them. He never delivered on what he and his party promised.
Conservatives fought for Net Zero, yet if each Council implemented those plans, they would go broke. And that is before they spend money on services, such as Adult Social Care, keeping the streets clean, and highways working.
If the Conservatives had implemented Brexit as they promised, turned the boats around as they promised, jailed prolific offenders as they promised, invested in education as they promised, then maybe they might still be leading this Country.
As it is, we have a Liebour Government with a Leadership which makes Diane Abbot look as if she has a PhD in mathematics. Not one on the front bench has any commercial acumen.
The only option Brits now have is to select a party other than Liebour, Conservatives, or the Lib Dems. Whether that be Reform, UKIP, Advance Party – they have to be better than what we currently have.
The system is designed not to change. But there is a peaceful, democratic way to give power back to the people: “a Citizens’ Right to challenge unjust laws through referendum.”
If you believe in real democracy and the people’s right to decide, please visit our website to learn more and support our petition.
https://sites.google.com/view/vetocracyuspsharing/home
We were on the North Walk this morning when my wife and I noticed a Mormon type crocodile coming along We said to them they weren’t dressed for the beach All but one chap thought we were very strange people who could put more than two words together We were disappointed that we weren’t introduced but Reform has two more votes They looked as if they were terrified of the locals Not ready for power
I am looking forward to seeing a real politician
come to the island.
Mr Jeremy Corbyn, time for change.
14 years of Conservatives was a disaster.
1 year of Labour is even worse.
Reform don’t have a clue, so come on J.C
you can do it.
I’ve often wondered what it is that is wrong with you, now I know, your a bloody Corbinite !
To be honest, faced with the alternative choices of
Starmer
Badenough
Farage
I think Corbyn is starting to look like the best of a bad bunch
Tories – 14 years of power & crippled the country through their greed based policies.
Labour – In spite of the promise of change for the better,.. seem to have failed pretty miserably so far.
Reform (ex UKIP / Brexit party) well if Brexit was the success that they premised it would be,.. then I hate to think how we’ll fare if they get into power.. ) and their policies are even more greed-based than the Tories,.. RIP NHS)
Libdems still haven’t recovered any form of popularity since breaking their election promise & siding with the CONservatives over tuition fees..
So the only choice for something better seems to be the Greens,..
or Corbyn (& what ever he chooses his new party to be called…)