UPDATED: Islanders will unexpectedly go to the polls on 8th June following the shock announcement of a general election by Prime Minister Theresa May this morning (Tuesday).
The news means Islanders will be given the chance to vote in a new MP – something that wasn’t expected to happen until 2020 when boundary changes come into force resulting in 2 MPs for the Isle of Wight.
Polling stations will open all day on Thursday 8th June, just a month after next month’s local elections.
In 2015 Andrew Turner retained his seat with a total of 25,591 votes. Mr Turner told Island Echo at the time that he had full intention to complete the full 5-year term, however he is yet to make an announcement as to whether or not he will stand again this year.
Iain McKie, who came in second for UKIP with 14,888 votes, has since left the party. With UKIP looking very different from 2 years ago the Green Party could stand a stronger chance on the Island following their respectable 9,404 votes gained with Vix Lowthion in 2015.
The General Election turnout on the Island in 2015 was 64.7% – 70,404 votes.
Vix Lowthion, who has already been selected as Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for the Green Party on the Isle of Wight has today said:
“A good deal has changed politically since I last stood for election as your MP in 2015, coming third behind UKIP and the Conservatives. The time is right to go back to the people – and change our government. Change our country’s direction. It is time to give a strong voice for the Isle of Wight.
Article continues below this advertisement “The IW Green Party will win our first seats on the Council in May. And in June we could have only the second Green MP in the country. We can build A Future to be Proud Of! I urge islanders to get behind our Parliamentary campaign and support us in any way you can.”
Meanwhile UKIP’s Daryl Pitcher has said:
“My immediate thoughts are ones of surprise. I don’t believe the polls and I think it will be closer than people realise, and of optimism.
“Between the newly Brexit supporting PM and a newly resurgent UKIP the margin for Leave voters at this election should be much greater than the Referendum result. It will also give my party a chance to regain representation in Westminster, hopefully here on the Isle of Wight.”
The Isle of Wight Liberal Democrats have welcomed calls for a general election. Chair Nicholas Belfitt has said:
“We welcome the calls of general election to give the chance for voters to decide the future of their country and their Island. We welcome the chance to put forward a real alternative to people who feel worried and upset about the course of this government.
“As Liberal Democrats, we will fight this election with the position of putting a real alternative forward. We will fight to turn our country away from a Tory-led Hard Brexit and fight to keep our positive economic position in the single market and customs union which many Island businesses depends on. We will fight for close relations with the EU and giving people a true vote on the Brexit negotiation deal”.
Local Independent Councillor Julie Jones-Evans has confirmed she intends to stand in June’s General Election.
UPDATE @ 14:03 – Andrew Turner has this afternoon issued a statement, but does not mention whether or not he will be standing in June’s election:
“I was in a meeting of the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee from 9.00am this morning, so myself and colleagues on the Committee knew nothing of the speculation going on outside about the announcement just after 11.00am. I am as surprised as anybody by this – but can understand the reasoning behind the decision. Most people in the country, whether they supported it or not, have rallied behind the decision made on 23rd June last year that we should leave the European Union. Sadly many MPs have not and there has been increasing unrest in the Commons.
“As is well known, I have always supported Brexit, along with 62% of Islanders. I go out knocking on doors every Saturday, and have increasingly found people saying we should now just get on with it – even if they voted Remain in the referendum. So although it is a pity it is necessary, I support the Prime Minister’s decision to call an election and look forward to working to win on the Island. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those people who have already been in touch expressing their support.
“In the meantime it is business as usual, and I have been lucky in the ballot to ask a topical question during Treasury Question Time this afternoon”
