Our Island, a movement that seeks to create a new political ambition for the Isle of Wight based solely upon the interests of the Island and its people, has been formally launched.
It will be promoted and realised by ‘committed individuals working in a collaborative partnership’. This includes the former independent leader of the Isle of Wight Council, Jonathan Bacon.
Our Island is currently recruiting candidates to stand in the local elections of May 2021, when they will aim to take control of the Council from the Conservatives. Phil Warren has already been selected to represent Ventnor & St Lawrence, whilst Laura Laurenson is to stand for the Newchurch, Havenstreet and Ashey ward.
Jonathan, who was in charge of the Council when the new floating bridge was commissioned, has said:
“My previous experience of the Council and working in and with a number of Parish and Town Councils has convinced me that we need to change how things are done and how things are organised on the Isle of Wight. My hope is to facilitate a movement that will unite those who think things can and should be done better.
“We particularly want to bring forward new Councillors and those who might previously have been discouraged from getting involved in politics by committing to change the system so it works for residents and not just for the politicians. We need people who are innovative and creative to help take us forward. Key to the aims and proposals the movement is putting forward is that residents and businesses should be engaged and involved in creating policy and decision making” ”
Our Island supporter Neil Blues has said:
“I have lived, worked and raised my family on the island during the last 35 years. It’s a great place to live apart from the island politics. In that time I have kept a log of many of the expensive, to the taxpayer, failings that the Council and the politicians have caused. It’s time for a significant change for the betterment of all of the inhabitants of our island.”
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If you are interested in standing as a candidate for Our island email [email protected].
It’s introspective and naive to suppose that IW can operate solely for its own benefit.
There are many things a new administration could do to improve the way the Island is run, but that doesn’t take yet another “party”, just common sense and liberation from dogma, neither in eivdence among current political groupings.
If Mr Bacon and co can demonstrate that they can work together and with others to achieve improvement, let them stand as “non-aligned” (as opposed to the much-tainted “independent”).
“Jonathan, who was in charge of the Council when the new floating bridge was commissioned, has said:”
Is this supposed to be a compliment of some sort?
ha ha – i would never have admitted to be associated with that unmitigated disaster
unfortunately it’s not correct. The process of buying a new Fb started in 2014 before cllr bacon was leader and the conservatives were running the council when the new Fb was delivered.
“a movement that seeks to create a new political ambition for the Isle of Wight based solely upon the interests of the Island and its people”
Should that not be the goal of every council and MP? Or are they hoping to introduce immigration controls? 😀
should be… but isn’t!
National political parties deliver national policies at local level. This is exactly why the Island doesn’t need conservatives re-elected next May.
I agree.
Another political party. UGHHHHHH. I am sick to the teeth of politicians.
What this Island needs is a group of people who know what they are talking about (floaty 🙁 ) and who are interested in working together for the good of all. Exactly what we do not have now and have never had in living memory.
And ‘previous leader’ is hardly a good reference to start with.
But this Island thought it was when it elected david pugh for two terms of four years between 2005 -2013.
It does not matter what party he now represents , this clown messed up everything before, made a hash of being leader so what difference does It make now if he assumes leader but under a new party, it’s basically like having a job as a sales rep and unable to achieve targets and unable to achieve KPIs therefore you are sacked from your job but you go home and you change your name by deed poll and you apply for your old job back ! Clearly his business ventures are not benefiting From within his nepotistic circle.
government by the people for the people where have i heard this before
You may have heard it, but have you seen it anywhere?
Is this one of “Pugwashes” councillors who has jumped ship???? If so watch your back. Seriously.
That’s all we need, another bunch of chancers.
you mean like the current bunch of conservative councillors? Not ‘chancers’. ? Some were even ‘paper candidates’. one of those who were elected spends much of his time in Spain…. go figure.
When he said he wants to replace the Conservatives that was all I needed toi know to avoid him and his party like the plague. He is just another socialist.
So a bit like the current “conservative” party then? Teresa May and Boris Johnson were/are essentially neo-liberal socialist ‘lites’. The conservative bit is just a ruse, they haven’t been anywhere near the word after they ousted Thatcher.
demonstrating in one sentence the polarisation of politics which, actually, should not be involved at local government level at all…. Non conservatives are, of course, not all socialists … far from it and run to millions in numbers. Get the national politics out of local councils and you might see some improvement.
Where do send bribes to now ?