Independent councillor Julia ‘Jules’ Hayward says community engagement and practical problem-solving were at the heart of her successful Nettlestone & Seaview local election campaign.
A third-generation Islander, parish councillor and systems change specialist, she is now part of the independent presence at County Hall.
Jules Hayward secured victory in Nettlestone & Seaview with 542 votes, comfortably ahead of Conservative candidate Mouli Akundi on 367. Reform UK’s Jennifer Holmes polled 251 votes, while Green Party candidate Janet Mace received 65 in a contest with a relatively high turnout of 51.86%.
The result gave Jules a winning margin of 175 votes in one of the East Wight’s most closely watched races.
Raised on Seaview High Street and now living locally with her family, Jules’ campaign quickly developed into a highly visible grassroots effort centred around community engagement, local issues and practical problem-solving.
Despite the convincing result, however, she admitted she had genuinely not expected to win.
Drawing on her background in athletics and team sports, Jules said she had approached the election determined to work hard rather than assume success.
“You never expect to win, but you always work for one.
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“I knew there had been a huge amount of positive support and encouragement, but until the votes are counted you never really know how things will land.”
Rather than triumph, Jules said the result left her humbled by the level of engagement she experienced throughout the campaign.
“What struck me most was the level of engagement from people across the community.
“The result felt humbling more than anything else and gave me a real sense of responsibility about the role ahead.”
Jules says the campaign reinforced her belief in constructive local politics focused on practical concerns rather than party battles.
“This is a local election, and for me it’s about who can best represent and serve the community.
“My focus is on listening, bringing people together, and getting things done on the issues that matter most locally.”
Those issues included flooding, sewage, road closures, planning concerns and the future of Nettlestone Primary School, which Jules says she will actively campaign to protect.
She also highlighted the condition of community spaces such as Puckpool Park and argued residents wanted to see better coordination and more thoughtful management of local change.
Professionally, Jules brings an unusual background to County Hall.
Earlier in her career she spent 4 years at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew working on conservation and visitor display design before joining the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, where she spent 12 years working on international programmes focused on systems change and the circular economy. She now runs her own consultancy supporting organisations and leadership teams.
Jules believes that combination of deep local roots and experience tackling large-scale organisational problems helped shape both her campaign and approach to politics.
“What’s slightly different about me is the combination of being deeply local while also having worked on change and created impact at a much larger scale.
“I grew up here and now have children in the local school, so I’m personally invested in the future of the area.”
She said her professional experience had influenced the way she approached local government and community issues.
“That experience has shaped how I approach local issues, focusing on where small, practical actions can unlock meaningful, lasting change.”
Jules also believes the Isle of Wight’s long tradition of independent representation remains a significant factor in local politics.
“I think many residents value having councillors who can stay closely focused on local issues without necessarily being directed by national party structures.”
Reflecting on Reform UK’s strong performance across the Island, she said many voters clearly felt frustrated and disconnected from mainstream politics and public services.
“Whether people agree with all of their policies or not, I think it would be a mistake to dismiss the underlying concerns that many voters are expressing.”
Although Jules intends to remain independent, she acknowledged the realities of operating within County Hall, where committee structures can favour organised political groupings.
“At the moment I haven’t joined any group, although I do know that I will remain an independent councillor,” she said.
Like many newly elected councillors, Jules also admitted the scale and complexity of local government had already proved eye-opening.
“For a role that isn’t salaried, it’s a significant responsibility to take on alongside work, family life and other commitments.”
Despite that, she said her early experiences had reinforced the importance of cooperation and constructive working relationships across political divides.
“I really believe we can create change when people with different views are willing to come together, focus on what we have in common and take a constructive approach to the challenges facing our Island towns and villages.”
Independent was the best result one could have wished for
such a shame many parts of the island didn’t go down the
same route, their loss.