Affordable ferries, wider powers for the Isle of Wight Council and millions of pounds of extra funding are some of newly elected council leader Phil Jordan’s most pressing priorities.
Speaking out following last week’s knife-edge leadership vote, the head of the Alliance group said the chamber had shown ‘confidence’ in him taking the helm for the year ahead, ‘particularly on delivering devolution’ – despite only narrowly keeping his position due to a casting vote by fellow independent councillor, Ian Dore.
Full council’s vote was a dead heat, with 18 councillors backing Cllr Jordan and another 18 voting for the Ventnor and St Lawrence county councillor, Ed Blake.
Cllr Jordan said:
“I’m very pleased we managed to get through the meeting last night with a change to the governance system and a good spread of councillors in various committees and chairs.
“There was confidence in me continuing for the next year, particularly on delivering devolution. We’re looking to very soon getting into rooms with the minister and government to negotiate those powers and that money.
“We can look at other areas that already have devolved powers and see some of those powers that government are prepared to pass down, particularly on transport, adult education, on health, on community and on culture and local communities.
“We want our fair share, oversight of the ferries and we want wider powers, either straightaway or in the coming years of a devolved power deal.
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Pressed on the ferry oversight, he said he was “working with a number of stakeholder groups, with transport professionals, to see what those powers might look like”. Options include looking at minimum service levels, service obligations and government interaction.
He added:
“The main problem we have to face as an Island with our ferries is the equity ownership issue – that’s what we’re going to be talking to government about.”
Turning to increased funding for the Isle of Wight, he said the council believed it had evidenced to government a need for “at least £24 million a year extra”.
Blah, blah, blah You stole my vote Jordan.
No, he didn’t.
Jordan only got in because the Reform councillors abstained. I take that to mean they support Jordan’s agenda. From now on a Reform vote is a wasted vote on the IOW.
Interestingly, the only councillors to vote for Ed Blake were every single Tory. Those who voted for Jordan were Labour, Lib Dem, Greens and Independents, a mix of thoughts, principles and ideas as opposed to along party lines. That the Reform councillors decided together not to vote points towards the fact they’ve been told to not pin their colours to anyone’s mast until they’ve worked out what they themselves stand for, and what’s in it for them. Probably due to the fact it’s only very recently dawned on Farage that in spite of who he aspires to be, the Tories can’t stand him. He was just a useful mouthpiece on occasions back in the day, saying the xenophobic crap they couldn’t afford to with the electorate. They’ve distanced themselves since, and he knows it. Think what you like about Jordan, but in no way is he a party political beastie. He was however hogtied by 14 years of Tory top-down diktats. Thank gawd that’s over, and devolution will bring change and a decent measure of autonomy…which is exactly what people say they want.
When will people learn, Reform are part of the
same agenda.
Bojo will make a come back like Trump did and
will gain power.
Politics is all planned, the winners are who the
Elites want to win, not peasants.
Vote Reform 1st May 2026. Jordan is so out of touch with everything, apart his cronies. He is quite honestly a nasty little man, I have witnessed his sarcasm and back stabbing nature.
When will people learn, Reform are part of the
same agenda.
Bojo will make a come back like Trump did and
will gain power.
Politics is all planned, the winners are who the
Elites want to win, not peasants
Phil think of your pension.
Before departing in 12 months, rollout
islandwide parking permit charges, that will
generate millions of extra pounds in the Council
kitty.
You could also generate more money employing
employees to tow away vehicles that are parked
illegally.
Unlike the mainland IW Council lose out, there are
so many opportunities to raise extra revenue.
If people don’t break the rules they won’t be affected.
Enjoy your final 12 months.
What’s it like Jordan to live a lie
You don’t deserve to call your self a leader until you have been voted in.
err, he was voted in or did you miss that part?
And I think he paint as well don’t forget the increase in expenses