A petition fighting against Alliance councillors’ decision to try and postpone this May’s local elections – thus keeping them in power for another 12 months – has been launched.
Labour Government is forcing devolution on the Isle of Wight so decisions need to be made whether or not to join the ‘priority programme’. Instead of fighting against the plan, the left-leaning Alliance administration has decided to go full steam ahead to join the front of the queue.
As part of the process, the Alliance group has decided to seek a postponement of the local elections, which only happen every 4 years and are due to take place this May. This has effectively seen Cabinet vote to keep their own jobs – and the generous allowance that goes with it.
The local elections need to be postponed to allow for negotiations to go ahead in respect of devolution – something that can’t be done during the ‘business as usual’ election period of 6 weeks.
Bob Seely, former Conservative Member of Parliament for the Isle of Wight, has spoken out about the Alliance administration and the petition:
“The failing Alliance Council is trying to cancel the May elections, against the wishes of the majority of IW Councillors and I am sure against the wishes of Islanders.
“They are running scared of the people they are supposed to represent, and trying to bag an extra year in power by asking for elections to be delayed. They are being supported by the Labour MP. It’s feable stuff.
“I know it’s difficult to get excited about local democracy, but elections shouldn’t be halted and elections should be respected.
Article continues below this advertisement “Their excuse is that elections need to be delayed to move ahead with devolution with Hampshire. If there won’t be major changes to the Isle of Wight Council, there is no need to delay. If there are to be major changes, they have been misleading us about the nature of devolution.
“There is no excuse to delay election This is not acceptable in a democratic society. There is no justification for what they are doing”.
A petition, created by Ventnor resident Dave Allen, calls for the ability for Isle of Wight residents to rightfully decide who represents them at a local level this May, as planned.
You can sign the petition at https://www.change.org/p/do-not-cancel-isle-of-wight-council-elections-on-1st-may-2025.
How can the so called “cabinet” overrule the council?
Because the Blair reforms to local government gift the cabinet, in a cabinet system, most of the executive powers. The rest of the council gets to appoint the cabinet, and to scrutinise the outcome of their decisions, but not (in most cases) the power to override them.
But, following the decisions by Portsmouth, Southampton, Hampshire and IOWC, it is now up to the national government whether our elections are postponed, or not. We expect a reply in two weeks or so. A petition to the island council is now a waste of time, since the council no longer has any legal power to change its decision.
I have NEVER seen our country in such a mess
it’s worse than the 1970s Labour Government
Labour, the most crooked government going, this whole country will be glad to see the back of them especially this slime ball councillor on the IOW