Reform UK is facing a backlash from political leaders on the Isle of Wight over its push to chair the new Hampshire and Solent Combined Authority (HSCCA).
Cllr George Madgwick, who leads Reform’s Hampshire group and sits on Portsmouth City Council, claimed his party has a ‘democratic mandate’ for the role and said it should not simply be handed to the ‘political establishment’.
The HSCCA, established under the government’s devolution agenda, is due to hold its first meeting in July and describes its role as giving the region greater control over how it is governed, with more decisions made locally.
It will bring together leaders of 4 upper tier councils – Hampshire County Council, the Isle of Wight Council, Portsmouth City Council and Southampton City Council – to work together to make key regional decisions.
Cllr Madgwick said:
“This new authority should not be stitched up behind closed doors by the old parties. It should reflect the democratic will of voters across Hampshire, Portsmouth, Southampton and the Isle of Wight.
“Reform UK is no longer on the sidelines. Across the region we have won seats, topped polls and broken through in communities that have been ignored for too long. The chairmanship of this new authority should reflect that reality.”
But Cllr Ed Blake, who leads the Isle of Wight Council’s Conservative group, said it is becoming increasingly clear Reform ‘can’t put their money where their mouth is’.
He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS):
“Reform UK won 30% of the vote in the council elections here on the Island in May. They have since tried to evade public scrutiny by declining the chance to take leadership of the council and instead put up an independent as leader with which can only be assumed that they intend to treat as a puppet.
“This is despite local Reform UK election campaigns saying they had the talent to lead and take control. Only the Conservatives have actual plans to sort things out at local, regional, and national levels.”
The Isle of Wight Council’s new leader, Jonathan Bacon, has firmly denied being a ‘puppet’.
He previously said he was approached with the suggestion that, in light of his experience, he might take the role and that ‘no deals were done’, with no undertakings to support any particular group.
Isle of Wight West MP Richard Quigley meanwhile said it is ‘unclear’ how Reform have the democratic mandate to chair the authority when they were unable to take control of any councils within the region.
He told the LDRS:
“I hope this indicates that Cllr Madgwick finally realises that devolution matters: Strategic Authorities with elected Mayors will receive more powers over transport, planning, housing, and economic regeneration.
“Hampshire and Isle of Wight residents deserve to be represented by someone who takes this opportunity seriously and does their best for our communities.
“In terms of his demand that Reform automatically take the chair role, I am slightly confused as to what he is suggesting.
“Is he saying that his idea of proportional representation should usurp the proper process or is he just shouting about it to divert our attention from something else?”
Cllr Andrew Garratt, Liberal Democrat group leader, said local council votes cannot be converted into a mandate for a role that was not on the ballot paper. He said:
“At the local elections voters were asked who they wanted as their local councillor — not who should chair the Combined County Authority, and not who they might choose as mayor two years from now under a different electoral system,”
All for Islanders leader Cllr Chris Jarman said that while the delayed May elections showed a ‘seismic change’ in political preference in all areas, this reflection of public opinion was in respect of local authorities rather than a ‘proxy mayoral mandate’.
He said his group believe the interim chair of the HSCCA should be chosen through an ‘open, transparent process’ by constituent authorities.
Cllr Jarman told the LDRS:
“The priority should be competent, accountable leadership that protects each area’s voice, especially the Isle of Wight. We must not be treated as an afterthought in decisions on transport, skills, investment, planning or growth, and the strength of our voice is paramount.
“Residents deserve devolution that is fair, transparent and open to detailed scrutiny of processes, decisions and finances. It must not be another layer of political positioning before the mayoral election in 2028.”
Cllr Claire Critchison, of the Green Party, said the process for chairing the combined authority is clear – it is the council leaders who have ‘stepped up’ to perform this role until the 2028 mayoral election.
“Seeing as Reform on the Island didn’t even put forward a candidate to be council leader, they have zero mandate to do this,”.
“Changing the agreement to suit their political agenda is not in the best interests of the region. All councillors need to work together to deliver the best representation possible for our residents.”
