The Labour MP for Isle of Wight West has said he “won’t give up until every last option has been explored” in the fight for more money for the Island.
Richard Quigley said he is making the case daily for improved funding after news of a possible £13.4million cutback.
Alliance group council leader Phil Jordan had warned that County Hall is now at the stage where it faces a ‘real and imminent’ position of being unable to set a balanced and lawful budget.
The government’s Fair Funding Review 2.0 consultation proposed major changes to the grant funding system for English local authorities, back in June.
A subsequent provisional Local Government Finance Settlement (LGFS) for 2026/27 to 2028/29, was published on December 17, outlining the funding for local government from central government.
Mr Quigley told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS):
“I have met with Minister McGovern to stress the uniqueness of the Island and the additional costs. Funding is up 30 per cent compared to 2019, but it quite clearly isn’t enough.
“I won’t give up until every last option has been explored. The consultation isn’t over and I am making the case daily for improved funding. I don’t think the current offer is done with any malice, just a lack of understanding of the uniqueness of the Island.
Article continues below this advertisement “The majority of the shortfall is due to increases in adult social care costs, our demographics are a huge issue.”
In a letter to Local Government Minister Alison McGovern MP earlier this month, Cllr Jordan wrote:
“The outcome of the (Fair Funding) review places the Isle of Wight Council in a substantial and materially worse financial position, reducing our overall funding by £13.4 million over the next three years.”
East Cowes’s independent Isle of Wight councillor Karl Love said Whitehall must resolve the financial pressures of adult social care across the country and that this was ‘bleeding’ Isle of Wight Council money.
Quits old chap, wrong demograph on the island. Your boss doesn’t care.
This bloke is all talk and no action .He said he would fix the ferries in 100days anyone noticed any service improvements or fare reductions yet? His boss said no increase in your council tax under Liebor. This is just another PR stunt by Wrigley QUIGLY. More bull##it bull##it bull##it that won’t change anything
Politicians talk the talk but don’t walk the walk.
Where and when did he undertake to fix the ferries within 100 days? Both Island MPs are orking to improve the ferry situation but I do not recall any promises – indeed how could any politician promise to deliver on a service run entirely by the private sector? The ferries could be regulated but this would require legislation which would take longer than 100 days to enact.
Squiggley is to the Isle of Wight as his boss – Starmer the merchant banker, is to the Chagos Islands.
Listening to two-tier Keir’s “press conference” now, where he extols the rights of the people of Greenland, whilst simultaneously ignoring the rights of the Chagossians and giving away prime London real estate to the Chinese so that they can spy on us.
14 U-turns in as many months by this half wit lawyer.
Both of these fools will be removed as soon as it is possible.
Why would any government help we refuse to help ourselves? Why would any uk citizen want to subsidise an island guilty of crass stupidity?
Just get the study done Richard… you know – like you promised.
shock, horror- quigley committing to doing his job
The money for all the illegal imigrants arriving on our shores has to come from somewhere. Here is the Isle of Wight’s contribution sorry it’s only £13.4 millions Nothing will change under labour or the torries vote reform for real change.Quigley in on a protest vote about as useful as a chocolate hot water bottle.
Reform won’t change anything, by the time of the next election
they will be full of Tories with a new leader.
Reform still report to their same Davos bosses
Farge and Reform are fake look who they let in to their party
Do people who shout “immigrants” every time a problem arises ever stop to ask if there might be other causes? Do they really think that if immigration stopped overnight the UK would become a land flowing with milk and honey?
Champagne socialist hypocrite. Amazed anyone is surprised by his ineptitude. First and hopefully last Labour MP ever to defile this beautiful island.
100% in agreement with you.
Quigley should urge the government to directly fund social care from the recent tax increases they are putting through. The Care Act changed everything for local government and very unfairly. It would be great if Quigley greater effort into attracting investment to the Island, much needed. Investment creates jobs, jobs more opportunity and more paying customers. We hear very little from him on this.