We have had the results, lost the former council leader, and there’s no overall control of the Isle of Wight Council – but while we wait to find out what happens next, let’s have a look at the stats.
In the 39 seats making up the authority, they now belong to 18 Conservatives, 13 Independent, 2 Green, 2 Island Independent Network, 2 Labour, 1 Our Island, 1 Liberal Democrat and 1 Vectis Party councillors.
The Isle of Wight Council has gone from 40 seats to 39 after boundary changes, and now there is a change with the Conservatives no longer holding a 23-seat majority.
Making up the rest of the authority before Thursday’s election were 8 Island Independent Group members, 2 Liberal Democrats, 2 Independent Members Group councillors, 2 Independent, 1 Independent Labour, one1Island Independent Network and 1 vacant seat.
Joining the Isle of Wight Council this time round are 4 new parties — Green, Labour, Our Island and the Vectis Party — but there are 16 new candidates overall, although you may recognise some familiar faces (Jonathan Bacon, Daryll Pitcher and Richard Quigley).
Announced yesterday by the Isle of Wight Council, the total turnout of the Island to vote for new councillors was only 36.93 per cent — down 4 per cent on previous years.
The total number of votes accepted this year was 41,002 — the Conservatives earning over a third, 15,825 from 39 candidates; Independents 10,039 from 24; Labour 4,760 from 28; Greens 4,541 from 19; Liberal Democrats 2,139 from 12; Our Island 1,427 from 5 Island Independent Network 1,327 from 6; and the Vectis Party 886 from 3.
Ranking the groups by average vote per candidate sees them tally up like this:
- Independent (418 votes)
- Conservative (406 votes)
- Vectis Party (295 votes)
- Our Island (285 votes)
- Greens (239 votes)
- Island Independent Network (221 votes)
- Liberal Democrats (178 votes)
- Labour (170 votes)
The five candidates receiving the highest individual vote are:
- Paul Fuller, Ind (1,101) (elected)
- Joe Robertson, Con (921) (elected)
- Claire Critchison, Green (876) (elected)
- Rodney Downer, Ind (862) (elected)
- Michael Lilley, Ind (832) (elected)
Former Conservative council leader Dave Stewart lost his seat to Claire Critchison despite getting the 12th highest votes out of all the candidates and sixth-highest in his party.
Cllr Paul Fuller was the only candidate to reach four-figures.
The 5 candidates receiving the fewest votes:
- Bill Collins, TUSC (20)
- Fred Turgurt, Ind (24)
- Martin Gooden, Freedom Alliance (38)
- Pauline Hunter, Lab (49)
- Stephen Parkes, Ind (58)
In some wards the race between candidates was very close, and in others, not so much.
The 5 closest finishes:
- Osborne – 4 votes – Con won, Green second
- Totland and Colwell – 10 votes – Ind won, Con second
- Haylands and Swanmore – 14 votes – Con won, Ind second
- Ryde South East – 34 votes – Con won, Lab second
- Cowes North – 35 votes – Lab won, Con second
The 5 biggest winning margins:
- Cowes West and Gurnard – 893 votes – Ind won, Con second
- Ryde Appley and Elmfield – 711 votes – Ind won, Con second
- Wroxall, Lowtherville and Bonchurch – 603 votes – Ind won, Con second
- Newchurch, Havenstreet and Ashey – 535 votes – Con won, Green second
- Bembridge – 481 votes – Con won, Our Island second
Surprised – no – they sell a good story to get voted in then do what they want anyway – people just not interested anymore
36% turnout… Proof that the Isle of Wight proudly remains a seething hotbed of apathy.
Well done to the public you have got what you deserve., to lazy to get of your butts to vote
I voted and still got what I wanted lol
Don’t feel it’s about being lazy Ron?! Just disillusioned by politics in general, people have had enough.
Nope.beard said it all judgemental fool
36%
Anyone who did not vote has no right to moan about the council
Be nice to see some turnout stats by age group (if IE can get it!). My hunch is that it could be as low as one or two in ten for younger people. Didn’t see any young-uns in the long queue I was in.
May be if there were a few youtubers or tiktokers standing it might be different.
Well well well!! Are we surprised by this?! NO. Totally out of touch with the majority of island residents & nationally!! BS they always say they will do, then it’s complete opposite to what they say whilst lining their own pockets. Greed, greed & more greed from spineless, self serving individuals. Politics for me at the moment is dead in the water.
And that small ,percentage that voted was all it took
Went along four times, fairly long queue each time, so in the end gave up. Or were they all just chatting outside?
Turn out was low.
Probably due to persons knowing whoever you vote for
NOTHING GETS DONE
All are a bunch of useless
Pathetic. Only 36% of people bothered to vote, me included. All the other 54% you have no right to complain, bitch or moan. You didn’t make the effort so your obviously happy with everything on the island!?!?!?!?!?
Yep I agree about the missing ,64%, I do think that there should be an independent public inquiry of some kind regarding the fiasco which is sandown seafront, it is utterly unforgivable that nobody is held accountable!!!!
Why bother to vote? it’s far easier to sit at home and post vitriolic posts about the council and the government than actually get off your bum and at least feel you have a right to moan.
Me, I’m quite happy with the way things turned out locally. 🙂
Young ones didn’t care about voting. The smarter ones will leave the island the lower ones will stay as scums on bennys.