Island Echo always welcome letters to the editor, which may of course not reflect the views of the publication and its staff.
Letter to the editor – 29th February 2024
“We love our Island and never want to move, but far too often the ferries make our lives difficult. Whether it’s for work, education, healthcare, a family gathering, shopping or just getting something delivered, the pirates of the Solent know we are a captive audience! “We all know that when Sealink was sold off, our service should have been separated and bought by us. Unfortunately, over the years the restructuring and over inflated valuations meant that investors wanted ever increasing returns, meaning the cost to us goes up. “A 1984 entry in Hansard talks about the exact problems we face today, predicting high prices and poor service levels. 40 years of decline needs to stop now. “Reform UK’s position on this is clear and comes directly from party leader, Richard Tice. “We have two options open to us. The first is to include our ferries in the critical transport infrastructure that a Reform Government plan to purchase 50% of. In our case the 50% share would be handed to the Isle of Wight council so we would directly benefit from any profits. “The second option is to impose a minimum service requirement along with either dictating specific prices or a profit margin that they have to work within. Both of these ideas are common sense and should have been implemented already. “I have heard some say “but Reform want to get rid of regulations”. Well, to be clear, Reform UK are pro smart regulation, and will abolish unnecessary nanny state regulations. There is a huge difference”.
Sarah Morris & Ian Pickering Reform UK Candidates – Isle of Wight
Keep it up folks, reform is the last hope for England.
If so, we are all doomed.
Reform haven’t got a clue. This idea is absolute nonsense and dead in the water. The solution is strict regulation.
Reform are organised as a de-facto dictatorship. They have no members and any MPs, even if they happen to be Prime Minister have to do what Tice tells them to do even if Tice holds no elected office himself.
Reform are a one-way trip to aPutin-esque despotism in the UK.
If you don’t believe me, do some research and find out how the Reform party are organised.
Everything else has failed, let’s give it a go!
They said that in Germany during the 1930s: “This Hitler has some fresh ideas. Maybe we should give him a go. Surely things can’t get much worse.”
Obviously, it is foolish to suggest that they can just buy/take 50% of a private company. It is not possible and any change in the law to facilitate such a move would lead to every foreign investor leaving the UK. These Reform clowns are just playing at imaginary politics. Clueless idiots.
Like most political parties dangle the carrot but when the time comes it won’t materialise, I’m sure if it could be done it would of happened. I trust Red Funnel more than I trust those in politics, Red Funnel are struggling boats are old raising costs mid morning high speed ferries not covering costs hence critical staff excuses running slower to conserve fuel,then the financial officer Graham has gone and no Christmas staff bonus hopefully things will get back on track, but I’d rather travel with Red Funnel than have a bridge
Well said Captain Stoker an extra £10 in your pay at the end of the month!
yours Red Funnel management
Your letter argues good points very clearly and it seemed to give confidence that one day there might be an improvement in our ferry services – until you say you will give the 50% share to the Isle of Wight council. Have you not been following their financial antics in the last ten years?
Handing 50% to IWC would be giving 50% to more pirates
The council would just sell their shares for short term funding.
Since we’re reforming and all, can we have all kinds of public transport – buses, trains, ferries – at least as good as Germany or Netherlands? Cheers.
Reform Government plan to purchase 50% of. In our case the 50% share would be handed to the Isle of Wight council so we would directly benefit from any profits
you forgot to say… owning 50% means paying 50% of the running costs.
The second option is to impose a minimum service requirement along with either dictating specific prices or a profit margin that they have to work within.
you forgot to say – minimum services means running ferries at a loss. -the council will need to financially support the ferries every week, if you insist on running loss making services, at below break even ticket prices.
and what of the uplift in wages to keep staff?
not thought it through have you.
With the Tories, Labour and Lib Dems all bowing to the same WEF Leader
Reform is the only way to go.
Ooooh, the World Economic Forum. The boogieman for every conspiracy theorist nutbag. Is it dark down that rabbit hole?
Should Reform UK be elected to represent the Island, I am concerned that if a 50% share is passed to the Isle of Wight Council, they will waste it.
I have observed, primarily through this forum, that many Islanders are dissatisfied with Bob (Conservative); however, they too are dissatisfied with the party that runs the Council, The Alliance.
Just because someone has a long history of steering multiple organisations (as many in Councils do), it doesn’t mean they are competent. An example of a lack of talent is the Mr McBoaty farce.
How can Islanders be assured that whoever they vote for in the forthcoming election will have the skills to do the job with solid leadership and accountability and to come within budget?
They are talking utter drivel. They simply do not have the power to do take/buy half the ferry services.
I agree totally, but would never vote for a party who believe that the Conservatives aren’t right wing enough!!
Well they aren’t!
Labour is currently more right wing than the tories…
That’s a ridiculous option, all it means is in effect the IWC becomes one of the profiteering equity share holders. What we really need is affordable, reliable and unfettered access across the Solent!
Then it’s time for a bridge……bring the hate bitches
Or a tunnel or stop complaining if you want a unreliable boat service
Any entity taking over either of the ferry operators will face the same problem: the amount of debt now accumulated sucks out any surplus and pays it to the likes of McQuarrie. To buy out that debt would make the purchase unaffordable, as Reform presumably knows but isn’t acknowledging.
A public service obligation comes inevitably with a public support obligation: the operator has only to cry “help” and public funds must step in (see Caly MacBrayne).
IW Council has enough on its plate without having to run one or more ferry operators. If there were a way of taking control it would need to be through a Community Interest Company (assets locked-in) or similar structure with technocrat and local directors.
Run out of space!
The question we should be asking is: how do we make acquisition affordable?
For example: revoking, impeding or time-limiting operating licences, boycotting travel, setting up a rival operation, dramatic government intervention, compulsory purchase/nationalisation (or the threat of it) – none of these looks likely.
Perhaps Islanders should set up a working group to explore means of attrition?
I believe the ferries should be run not-for-profit, but I wouldn’t let the council anywhere near them.
So another solution is required other than those you proposed.
Why should they – this is not some socialist, hippy commune on the island where we all form a circle and pat each other on the back, whilst singing kumbaya.
The owners of the ferry companies, can if they so wish, simply stop operating ferries to and from the island, as they are deemed unprofitable, like any other business – then where will all the whiny, pathetic socialists be.
how about you run a non profit ferry service and lets see how far you get
Would have to get a majority vote from shareholders of Wightlink Limited / Southampton Isle of Wight and South of England Royal Mail Steam Packet Company Limited (aka Red Funnel) first. Then handing 50% voting power and control to the IW Council – ha ha! They can’t run and manage what they’ve already got; every employee of the council is thick anyway. Best thing to do is put legislation in place to cap ferry prices and regulate the whole industry. These are private companies and have nothing to do with us, nor local authorities or government. We don’t have to use them – we could start our own ferry service or swim!
IOW Council can’t even run the chain ferry!
More nonsense from Reform! They are going to spend so much money, cut taxes and change rules knowing very well that they won’t get into power so they can promise all sorts of nonsense knowing they won’t have to deliver on their promises. Do you think we are stupid? Note your appalling result in the bye election last week in the midlands, people are twigging your nonsense.
Did you expect them to win in downtown baghdad then? This is a brand new party who are centre right, putting the feelers out in their first general election year. Of course the results are poor that was expected, they are starting at the bottom, it will take time to build momentum and even then they will never win in somewhere like that, and neither have any other party except the big two.
The Isle of wight council can’t run a chain ferry service across the river Medina, how do you expect them to run a ferry service across the Solent?
The ferries will kill themselves. Not that long before passenger drones available. Council ought to provide an drone air service if it can compete with the ferries.the price of ferries probably cheaper for a small group to buy and share a passenger drone soon.
i can’t wait for passenger drones and not have to rely on ferry or the potholed roads.
Current price for a passenger drone over $300,000. Dream on.
LOL no chance of a reform government. Don’t waste your vote on them.
Which of the big two parties who have ruined our country in the last few decades would you suggest we vote for then? now that really is a waste of time.
“Well, to be clear, Reform UK are pro smart regulation, and will abolish unnecessary nanny state regulations”
This has been happening for the last 50 years, deregulation. And look at where it has got us. Next to no consumer rights, corporations making record braking profits whilst the people are in a debt crisis. Reform UK are the new bread of post truth populist parties. I did campaign for them at one time, having been on the inside, do not trust them. They are just Tories.
Ha ha, the definition of insanity, is to repeat the same thing, over and over again,and expect a different out come! If you think voting tory or Labour will change anything,then your nuts! Just look at history! They just keep passing the baton between them. ” OK chaps it’s your turn” , ” Do keep to the script though chaps” . And if you can’t see the answer, then we are truly doomed.
Reform, Liebour’s back door into power.