The Conservative Opposition in Parliament has formally backed regulation for Isle of Wight ferries, slamming ticket prices as ‘extortionately high’.
Shadow Communities Minister, Paul Holmes MP, said that ferry services are being ‘run into the ground’ and Conservative MPs would back East Wight MP Joe Robertson’s proposed amendment to the English Devolution Bill to hand powers for pricing and timetabling to the incoming Mayor for Hampshire and Isle of Wight.
Speaking at the despatch box in the House of Commons, Mr Holmes questioned why the government was not formally backing the proposal:
“In other areas they have allowed mayors to have regulatory responsibility for many areas across the whole of the United Kingdom, not only geographically but in terms of the areas that the mayor is responsible for [like transport], and the Isle of Wight is a special case.”
He referred to ferry cancellations faced by Islanders and acknowledged the joint work of the Island’s 2 MPs Mr Quigley and Mr Robertson, who described the establishment of a local combined mayor authority as a ‘missed opportunity’ to regulate ferries.
In the absence of Government support Mr Robertson’s proposal did not pass, however, last week the Maritime Minister, Kier Mather MP, formally recognised the urgent need to address ongoing concerns over the reliability and affordability of ferry services to the Isle of Wight.
When pressed by Mr Robertson in the House of Commons, Mr Mather agreed that urgent action needs to be taken to resolve the longstanding issues that both Island MPs and local groups have been campaigning for.
He said:
“Again, the hon. Member makes a powerful point on behalf of his constituents—it is right to be frustrated by the affordability and reliability of ferry services to the Isle of Wight. I agree that urgent action needs to be taken to resolve the issues that he and his parliamentary colleagues are campaigning on. That is why it is incredibly important that we get a cross-Solent chair in place quickly, so that they can grip this issue. Fundamentally, though, we must work together to get the data necessary to create a single version of the truth, so that we can assess how to deal with these problems in the round on behalf of the hon. Member’s constituents.”
Joe Robertson MP welcomed the Minister’s acknowledgement, saying:
“The Conservative Opposition backs ferry regulation. Even the Government now accepts that the story the ferry companies tell about pricing, reliability and impact on local jobs and the economy cannot be relied upon. The Minister wants to understand the actual situation in detail as he knows prices and reliability are not acceptable. For too long, the ferry executives have held sway at the Department for Transport but that is now changing with our cross-party work and campaigning locally. I am looking forward to meeting the Minister and DfT officials again before Christmas to discuss the accurate facts and data that will lay the foundations for fixing this longstanding issue for Islanders.”
Following collaborative work between both Isle of Wight MPs, this recognition from both Westminster parties represents a significant step forward in efforts to ensure an affordable, dependable ferry service that supports Island residents, local employment, and economic stability.
Hang on a minute thought Quigley was sorting all the ferries out in 100 days or was this just another Liebor LIE? Maximum of 1359 days till we can get them out and the clock is ticking.(probably a lot less days after tomorrow’s budget by Rachel from accounts}
Your point is unhelpful. Seely never managed to get the Tories (who had 14 years to regulate the ferries) to do anything. Criticising Labour when they are at least acknowledging the problem and the need for action demonstrates only your bias. We have a cross party effort going on here with what might be the best chance of improving things for Islanders that has been attempted. Why muddy the waters by trying to party politicise it?
Don’t hold your breath, Labour are all talk – NO action.
Funny how the Con’s are now backing regulation which was something they always refused to consider when they were in power.
If the Con’s ever get back in power this will soon get pushed back under the carpet.
Lying barsteward Tories will say anything to keep their seats.
See Badenoch is now saying that we should leave the ECHR, but the “One Nation” branch will never let them do anything like that.
They locked the country down and caused avoidable deaths, which they now admit was wrong.
The Conservatives must NEVER be a government again.
Makes one wonder if all parties report to the same
Davos bosses.
The Conservative Opposition in Parliament has formally backed regulation for Isle of Wight ferries, slamming ticket prices as ‘extortionately high’
In the absence of Government support Mr Robertson’s proposal did not pass
In other words – dead on arrival
the state or any mayor will never be able to tell any private ferry company how much they can charge and how often they must run, unless the state is going to pay taxpayer money to support the ferries. As that will never happen, MP’s are just doing their usual talking head bit to make it look like they are doing something
the ferry companies are perfectly safe from these empty threats
Old lady from Sandown:
Glaring obvious…but blind that those who will not see my lovelies!
when will someone in power authorise a Fixed Link feasibility study before our beautiful island dies!
Unless at least one is nationalised. When Wightlink was Sealink and part of BR, government could set fares which Red Funnel then had to compete with. Privatisation was supposed to make things cheaper by introducing market competition but all we have is a cartel who fisx prices between them and rip off the public. The private sector will always be driven by profit for shareholders first and not by service provision or fairness in pricing.
nothing will ever change here
the isle of wight council regulates taxi fares – it costs over £50 to get to cowes from ryde in the morning commuter times. a single on the cat is about £20
“it costs over £50 to get to cowes from ryde in the morning commuter times”
The bus is only £3 !
Just words nothing will come of it just words.
So after 14 years of the cons that never bothered about the ferries they are now baking this
Unbelievable
Cheaper in the long run to extend Ryde Pier a few more miles.
Job solved.
it’s funny how, when the Conservatives were in power, and had the ability to implement some sort of regulation of the ferries,.. they categorically refused to consider doing so.
When ‘half-sausage’ Seely made a presentation to the Transport Secretary on the subject, he was emphatically told (to paraphrase) “No!,.. we conservatives like companies that make massive profits in situations like this”
now it’s someone elses ‘responsibility’,.. suddenly they’re in favour of it??