Joe Robertson, Member of Parliament for Isle of Wight East, won’t stand down as a local councillor as he originally intended – instead deciding to stick it out to help fight for the Island’s independence.
It was in July last year, shortly after the General Election, that Mr Robertson told Island Echo he would not stand down as the local councillor for Bembridge, stating that it was in the interest of the parish not to have a by-election. He did, however, say that he would not stand for re-election.
The rationale was that voters had already turned out to the Police and Crime Commissioner Elections on 2nd May and the General Election on 4th July. It was also planned for the Local Elections to take place this May, so a by-election would mean no fewer than 4 elections in just a 12-month period.
With the Local Elections now postponed until May 2026, there have been calls for Joe Robertson and his counterpart, Richard Quigley, Isle of Wight West MP, to stand down from the Isle of Wight Council.
Reform UK Isle of Wight says the pair should do the honourable thing and resign their council seats, allowing at least some Islanders to have their say in a by-election.
However, Joe Robertson has confirmed this week that he won’t stand down in light of the recent news. He intends to maintain his role, alongside his responsibilities as a Member of Parliament, to help fight for the Island’s future.
Mr Robertson has said that he will resign from his Council seat once the Isle of Wight Council is safe from the Government, and there is no risk of a mainland-based Mayor making decisions on the Island.
In a statement released to Island Echo, Joe has said:
“The future of the Isle of Wight Council is under serious threat. The Alliance-Independent-Green Group that leads the Council asked the Government to cancel our elections in May of this year, which the Government has done, because it is ‘not in the business of holding elections to bodies that will not exist and where we do not know what will replace them’.
“I am campaigning against merging the Isle of Wight Council with part of the mainland and against a Hampshire-based Mayor that Island residents did not ask for. I can do that better by continuing to serve as a councillor, and I have launched a website and survey – www.combinedmayor.co.uk – for residents to complete so that we can send the Government and Council Leader a clear message.
“I believe it is in the interests of East Wight residents that their MP continues to serve on the Isle of Wight Council and fights for its independence at this dangerous time.
“When our Council is safe from the Government, and there is no risk of a mainland-based Mayor making decisions on the Island, I will resign my Council seat so that the residents of Bembridge can elect a new Councillor”.
Addressing any concerns that he can’t split his commitments, Joe has said:
“I currently have a 90% attendance rate at Council meetings, which puts me in the top 20% of councillors and I am in the top 20% of MPs for oral and written contributions in Parliament”.
It’s understood Richard Quigley MP has been in discussions with the Council’s monitoring officer and will make a formal announcement on his future as a local councillor in due course.
The decision may have been made easier for him in light of last night’s news that Town, Parish and Community Council elections will be going ahead in May, with by-elections for county councillor seats potentially being held on the same day for seats vacated by resigning councillors.
Do what other area who are being denied the vote, don’t pay your council tax after 1st April. This council after that date have not legal rights anymore, the more people that do this the more starmer and his nazi party will realise that cannot push people around like tortured animals.
Did you mean no legal rights, or did you mean no mandate for sweeping changes in the interim? Huge difference. Also, non-payment of council taxes will have no affect whatsoever except on the credit scores of the people thinking that sort of protest is relevant. Please don’t think you can not pay your bills and get away with it because the council has no legality to enforce it….they have, and will. It will result in Magistrates court and a Liability Order.