Conservative mayoral candidate Donna Jones has accused the Labour Government of taking the Isle of Wight for granted after rejecting a request to bring forward the first Hampshire and Solent mayoral election to May 2027.
The decision means residents across Hampshire, Portsmouth, Southampton and the Isle of Wight will have to wait until May 2028 to elect their first regional mayor, 2 years later than originally planned.
Jones, who is also the Police and Crime Commissioner for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, has warned that the delay could cost the region vital investment opportunities and hamper efforts to improve transport, infrastructure and economic growth.
She has also raised concerns that plans to tackle the cost of ferry travel to and from the Isle of Wight could be held back without an elected mayor in place.
Donna Jones, Conservative Mayoral Candidate for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, has said:
“This decision is an absolute disgrace. The Isle of Wight is being held back by a Labour Government that is prioritising the North of England while taking the South for granted.
“I’ve been working on a plan to delver fairer ferry pricing. Tackling this issue is key to growth and supporting businesses across the island. A mayor for the IOW is key to unlocking this major issue working with local MP’s. This will now be delayed.”
The Hampshire and Solent Combined County Authority has already begun operating, but without a directly elected mayor it does not have access to the full range of powers and funding arrangements associated with mayoral devolution.
Jones believes the delay risks leaving the South behind other parts of the country where established mayors have been able to negotiate directly with ministers and secure investment.
She continued:
“We are losing valuable investment opportunities, being denied the strong regional leadership we desperately need, and watching other parts of the country move ahead while the Isle of Wight is at right of being left behind.
“We are being starved of the investment and opportunities enjoyed by regions in the North with established Labour mayors. It is becoming increasingly clear that this Government is more interested in supporting its political heartlands than delivering a fair deal for communities across the whole country.”
Jones highlighted the region’s maritime industries, defence sector, ports, tourism and manufacturing businesses as areas that could benefit from stronger regional leadership.
She argued that the absence of a mayor could also delay investment in roads, railways, housing, skills and employment opportunities.
The Conservative candidate has called on the Government to reconsider its decision and provide assurances that Hampshire and the Isle of Wight will not miss out on funding during the extended wait.
Jones added:
“The North has benefited from powerful mayors who can champion their regions, negotiate directly with ministers and attract significant investment. I welcome investment in the North, but why should Hampshire and the Isle of Wight have to wait?
“The people of Hampshire and the Solent should not be treated as second-class citizens simply because of where they live or how they vote.
“I am calling on the Government to urgently reconsider this decision, bring forward the mayoral election and guarantee that our region will not lose out on funding or investment because of its own unnecessary delays.”
The first election for Mayor of Hampshire and the Solent is currently scheduled to take place in May 2028.
