The Conservative Party’s long-standing grip on the Isle of Wight appears to be hanging by a thread following a devastating collapse in the 2026 local elections, which saw the party reduced from 18 councillors to just 2.
For decades, the Isle of Wight was viewed as a Conservative stronghold both locally and nationally, regularly returning Tory MPs to Westminster and handing the party control of County Hall.
But after years of political turbulence nationally and growing voter frustration locally, the latest election results have sparked questions over whether the Island’s traditionally blue voting habits are changing for good.
Between 2001 and 2017, Andrew Turner represented the Isle of Wight in Parliament for the Conservatives, holding the seat for almost 16 years before deciding not to stand again. He was succeeded by Bob Seely, who represented the Island from 2017 until 2024.
However, the 2024 General Election marked a major political shift for the Isle of Wight, as the single parliamentary constituency was split into 2 separate seats for the first time – Isle of Wight East and Isle of Wight West.
The newly created Isle of Wight East constituency was won by Conservative candidate Joe Robertson, while Isle of Wight West was won by Labour candidate Richard Quigley – marking the first time in history that Labour had secured a parliamentary seat on the Isle of Wight.
At local level, the Conservatives have experienced fluctuating fortunes over the past 2 decades, but the scale of the party’s losses in 2026 marks by far its worst modern result.
In 2009, the Conservatives secured 24 seats and held a majority on the Isle of Wight Council. That majority was lost in 2013 when the party fell to 15 seats.
The Conservatives recovered in 2017, winning 25 seats and regaining overall control of County Hall. However, by 2021, support had already weakened significantly, with the party reduced to 18 councillors and losing its majority once again.
Now, in 2026, the party has been left with just 2 remaining councillors.
Those 2 surviving seats belong to Ed Blake and Matt Price.
Ed Blake, leader of the Isle of Wight Conservatives and councillor for Ventnor, secured victory with 627 votes – finishing 322 votes ahead of Reform UK candidate Craig Dabbs. Blake himself was first elected during a by-election in 2023.
Meanwhile, Matt Price retained Fairlee and Whippingham with 602 votes, finishing 222 votes ahead of Reform UK’s John Wilson. Price has represented the ward as a Conservative councillor since 2013.
A number of long-serving Conservative councillors lost their seats during the 2026 local elections, including Sandown South councillor Ian Ward, who had held the seat since 2005, and Haylands and Swanmore councillor Vanessa Churchman, who had also represented her ward – on and off – since 2005.
Other Conservative councillors who lost their seats include Chris Quirk and Stephen Hendry.
The results have fuelled speculation that the Isle of Wight’s political landscape may now be shifting away from decades of Conservative dominance.
Whether the collapse proves to be a temporary backlash or the beginning of a long-term political realignment remains to be determined.
Two words:
Bob Seely.
His hatefulness, ego and corruption single-handedly destroyed the Conservatives’ political grip on the island and was part of the culture that broke Britain.
I feel sorry for those who had to go along with it, who are intrinsically decent people. Dave Stewart… Ian Ward… etc.
About bloody time too. Quigley and his lot need to go too, Quigley is a big Starmer fan, face it Labour are a dead duck.
Time for the Tories to face the music for their lies of the 14 years of misrule.
In the 2025 local elections that WERE held, all 16 Councils under Tory control were lost to Reform and Lib Dems.
In the elections held on 7 May last, the Tories lost 563 Council seats.
Yet their “Leader” Badenough, states that there is a definite Torys “bounce”.
If she sees those figures as a “bounce” then she is more deluded than Starmer!
Indeed her own seat in Essex will turn Reform at a general election.
She also allegedly now wants the Conservatives to secede from the ECHR, despite the fact that she announced in April 2023 that the number of EU Regs applicable to the UK would be reduced from 4,000 to 800 to appease the One Nation Group of Pro-EU Tories.
From 2010 to 2024 the Tories have proved to be unworthy of the trust of the British electorate.
From the Partygate scandal of the disgraceful Covid lockdown to the Pincher “pinching” scandal of 2022, which resulted in that slob Johnson resigning, the Tory sleaze is unmatched even by Starmers 2026 shitshow.
Your right. Do you remember Boris Johnson’s 40 new hospitals promise?
All politicians make false promises to gain votes,
Nige will be no different.
Wightlink have more chance stopping a boat than
Nige does.
Lol