All 6 candidates vying to become MP for Isle of Wight East in just 2 weeks’ time faced the scrutiny of voters at the joint Island Echo/IW Observer General Election hustings at Ryde School yesterday evening (Wednesday).
Who is destined to become the new Isle of Wight East MP – the first election since the Isle of Wight was split into 2 parliamentary seats?
The key hustings for the Isle of Wight’s seaside towns was introduced by Darren Toogood, editor/publisher of Island Echo and chaired by Richard Priest, who was even-handed with all candidates and allowed those present to form their own opinions.
Candidates first made an introductory speech before letting the audience know how they would tackle the ‘big’ issues: cross-Solent connectivity, Island schools, health provision and green issues. They then had to bat away spontaneous questions from local voters.
Sitting on the far left of the panel was Conservative Councillor Joe Robertson, who – as a former Ryde School pupil – was familiar with the hustings venue. Joe, who described the Island Echo/Isle of Wight Observer hustings as ‘the big one’, urged those present to vote local and let the national picture play out.
To the left of Joe was Michael Lilley of the Liberal Democrats. Michael joked that the last time he had been to the theatre at Ryde School was to see Hamlet but that he hoped the evening would not be a tragedy, or that anyone would go mad.
Sarah Morris – fighting her first election for Reform UK – expressed her love for her Isle of Wight birthplace and voiced her concern that her children would not be able to live here unless certain issues, such as the cost of the ferries, improved.
Vix Lowthion of the Green Party was fighting her 4th campaign to become an Isle of Wight MP. She emphasised that she had increased the Green Party vote share from 900 to 9,000 in her first attempt and hoped a group of Green MPs could keep the Labour Party on track.
Independent David Groocock sat between Vix and the Labour candidate. David admitted to potential voters that he was the ‘wildcard’ and the ‘underdog’ but reminded them that the dark horse sometimes won the Grand National.
Finally, at the opposite end of the panel to Joe, sat the current bookmakers’ favourite – Labour candidate Emily Brothers – together with her guide dog Truffles. Emily promised Labour Party supporters that she would “speak truth to power”.
The audience question that got the most animated response was about Brexit. Sarah Morris and Joe Robertson were unrepentant leavers; Michael Lilley, Vix Lowthion and Emily Brothers saw Brexit as a disaster and David Groocock was a regretful Leave voter.
Following the hustings, those present voted in an exit poll, the results of which will be published on Island Echo tomorrow morning (Friday).
A more detailed article giving candidate responses to the questions posed at the East hustings will be published over the weekend… You can re-cap on the events of the Isle of Wight West hustings, held last Wednesday, at https://www.islandecho.co.uk/voters-hear-from-isle-of-wight-west-candidates-at-lively-hustings-event/.
You can watch back the entire Isle of Wight East hustings, which was live streamed, below:
