The UK government is to establish a new Islands Forum to empower island communities such as the Isle of Wight to communicate directly with the Government, inform future policy and work together.
The proposed forum will allow Government to hear and learn from island communities across the UK. These communities face common challenges in areas such as connectivity, infrastructure, and depopulation.
Through the Forum, attendees will be able to share experiences and learn from success to overcome these challenges, as the Conservatives unite and level up every corner of the United Kingdom. The Government also plan to work closely with the devolved governments when establishing the Forum.
Secretary of State Michael Gove has said:
“Talent is equally spread across the United Kingdom, but opportunity is not. Our island communities face shared challenges and I want us to work together to overcome them, as we work to unite and level up the whole UK.
“A number of island communities have already benefited from the Levelling Up Fund and Community Renewal Funds. Creating a new Islands Forum takes our commitment one step further and provides a new opportunity for island communities to work together to help their communities prosper.”
When establishing the Forum the government intends to work with island communities to find the best ways in which we can engage with them.
Michael Gove intends to chair the first Forum later in the year.
Isle of Wight MP Bob Seely has said:
“The UK’s Island Forum will be confirmed tomorrow as part of the levelling-up agenda. This is another important win for the Island, and for islands throughout the UK.
“As the Government has acknowledged, island communities face common challenges in areas such as connectivity and infrastructure, as well as access to education and training.
“One of the first things I did when elected in 2017 was to establish an All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for UK Islands. Over the years, we have secured a number of debates looking at issues relating to islands, and I am grateful for the continued input of Conservative, Liberal Democrat, Labour and SNP colleagues on this front.
“We have collectively tried to influence Government to listen to the experience of islanders throughout the UK as well as Islanders on the Isle of Wight.
“With the establishment of an Islands Forum, I see the opportunity to complement – and work in parallel with – the work of the APPG.
“The Forum will, as I understand, bring together representatives of those various island communities, and I very much hope that the Isle of Wight Council will play its part. We will then explore how we can all solve common problems for the benefit of islanders throughout the UK.
“Whilst the Government’s levelling-up agenda is focused on increasing prosperity for the country as a whole, the nature of the challenges faced by island communities are often different to those experienced in more urban parts of the UK. I am delighted that the Government will recognise this and is prepared to look at island issues as a distinct part of its wider policy objectives.
We will need some good negotiators to speak up for us, so as long as county hall stays well clear we could achieve something at last, but don’t hold your breath.
We will need a miracle. We cant even get a few coppers on our roads. We are often seen as a boil on Hampshire.
What ever happened to Boris’s extra funds for the island ??? When i see the statement. ” The islands service’s are to merge with Hampshire” I think thats the end of that then. Of course i hope this islands forum would put our side to the powers that be, but who would listen and act ? Its becoming a case of ” abandon all hope ye that live here ” There, that cheered everybody up.
The island was never going to get any extra funds. Boris is a pathological liar. He tells people what they want to hear just to sound good and get them off his back.
Well, he got Brexit over the line.
Yes he did get Brexit done. His one and only triumph.
All fine words, but seeing as we can’t even get a proper Road Police Unit, there is no hope. The only way to improve the island is to get rid of Seely and this council. Put a stop to all the DFL’s buying all the auction properties and make sure housing is cheap enough for locals to buy, much better than leaving them empty 6 months of the year and the “owners” complaining about mouldy curtains and how noisy the sea is, if someone lived in the houses full time that wouldn’t happen.