Both the Isle of Wight’s MPs have confirmed their intention to step down from their councillor roles at County Hall.
Isle of Wight East Conservative MP Joe Robertson and the Labour MP for Isle of Wight West, Richard Quigley, have issued statements after it emerged mayoral elections were set to be delayed.
Mr Robertson represents Bembridge on the Isle of Wight Council, and Mr Quigley serves as the councillor for Cowes North.
Their eventual departures from the local authority could result in by-elections being called in their wards if no County Hall elections are held next year.
It emerged on 4th December that 4 areas due to vote in mayors vested with devolved powers next May may not elect them until May 2028.
Steve Reed, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, yesterday said the government was minded to hold the first mayoral polls for Sussex and Brighton, Hampshire and the Solent, Norfolk and Suffolk, and Greater Essex 2 years later than previously planned. These areas would complete the local government reorganisation (LGR) process before the mayors take up their positions, he said.
LGR forms part of Whitehall’s reform programme for English local government which would see new unitary authorities replacing the two-tier system of county and district councils.
Mr Reed said:
“Devolution is strongest when it is built on strong foundations, therefore moving forward we will ensure strong unitary structures are in place before areas take on mayoral devolution.”
Mr Robertson said he believed the government is also threatening to cancel Isle of Wight Council elections again. He told the LDRS:
“Elections should have taken place this year but may be delayed until 2028 which is an insult to Islanders.
“I asked the Minister (Miatta Fahnbulleh MP) to confirm that she will not cancel our council elections next May because her plans for a mayor and LGR are not complete. She did not give that confirmation.
“When councillors were last elected in 2021 it was for a time limited period not an indefinite rolling arrangement on the whim of a dysfunctional government.”
Mr Robertson said he would not serve as an Isle of Wight councillor beyond May next year, “whatever the government decides to do”.
Asked when he planned to step down as a councillor, Mr Quigley said at the moment, local elections are due to take place in May 2026.
Responding to the mayoral elections delay, he said:
“It’s great to see that all parties are now aligned on the positive impact a mayoral authority will make to the Isle of Wight.
“Whilst it is disappointing for anything to be delayed, sometimes it’s necessary to get the best possible outcome.
“I have spoken with the Minister to ask that the proposed increases in funding are made as soon as possible, so the Island can make investment plans with partners now rather than later.”
Both sides of the uniparty…
Isn’t one of the fundamental features of a dictatorship the removal of the right to due democratic process.
Surely removing that right, even temporarily, is a breach of basic human right and should not be done without the consent of those concerned.
Such consent has neither been sought nor given.
This is not an insult, it is a severe blow to democracy in this country I expect our MPs to take every possible political and legal action available to them to defend our democratic rights.
Mere words are not enough.
They will both be gone at the next election, and replaced by Reform, and for me it can’t come soon enough.
No where in the article does it say Mr Quigley is stepping down, he is quoted as saying the council elections are due in May!
If all the councillors were to step down just before May, it would force a huge by-election, effectively an election, doing the right thing for democracy. Let’s see what happens.
No chance of that is there, hard enough getting heads outta trough for meetings as it is
Stepping down before they get totally embarrassed in the next elections.
Hmmmm, reading the script, it sounds like Quigley will stay on if elections are postponed. Can anyone confirm his position? It doesn’t feel unequivocal to me. Devolution is a huge mistake and if Quigley thinks it is such a good idea, why not let people vote on it?