“What you see in our manifesto is what you’ll get from the Isle of Wight Council under Conservative Leadership” – that’s the message from the Island’s Conservatives as they launch their manifesto ahead of the local elections in May.
The party’s election campaign was officially launched at Newclose Cricket Ground in Newport this afternoon (Friday) where a large majority of the Conservative candidates gathered. Familiar faces were presented alongside many new candidates, including Ventnor councillor Graham Perkes who has joined the Conservatives from UKIP.
The youngest candidate in the 2017 election is 19-year-old Ewan Smith-Wainwright, who has also joined the Conservative party from UKIP.
Ahead of today’s manifesto unveiling the Leader of the Isle of Wight Council, Dave Stewart said:
“It’s only two months since the previous, so-called ‘Independent’ Administration collapsed at County Hall split by bickering and in-fighting within the Independent Group, but already Conservatives have shown the Island what can be done.
“We’ve set a lawful budget, despite our predecessors saying this wasn’t possible; we’ve launched important regeneration projects; we’ve got a grip of the Island Roads and Island Waste contracts; we’re driving forward school improvements; and we’ve secured attention at the highest level of government through two meetings with the Prime Minister, Theresa May, and several with other Ministers including the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.
“We can and will deliver an effective, professional and ethical Administration at County Hall if we’re the largest group after the elections on Thursday 4th May. Our manifesto sets out our priorities for the voters of the Island to judge: unlike the previous Administration we’ll make no false promises. What you see in our Manifesto is what you’ll get from the Isle of Wight Council under Conservative Leadership.”
The manifesto, which is available in full here, states the Conservatives will deliver ‘a council that works for everyone’, creating opportunities for all and delivering economic growth and prosperity.
Under a Conservative council it is said sound financial management will be delivered alongside priorities to preserve the environment, protecting the community and planning for the Island’s future needs.
It has also been announced today that the Conservatives will hold a Green Summit on the Island to look at ways of protecting the environment, if they win power next month.
Councillor Stewart has said that he wants farmers, conservation organisations, business and the Island’s Green Party to be involved in the summit, which should look at formulating an action plan to protect the Island for future generations.
Cllr Stewart has said:
“The Island needs greater protection to enhance its beauty and safeguard wildlife so it can promote itself as a tourist destination while raising the quality of life for residents.
“We have a beautiful place here that is under pressure from population growth and housing needs so we must do more to ensure it stays a beautiful place and one that people want to visit and live in.
“This desire needs to be balanced against ensuring we have economic prosperity too, and I understand that can be difficult, but it is not impossible and we need to look long and hard at what we can all do to improve our island’s biodiversity, protect its outstanding beauty and find a way to drive forward a sustainable future.
“This is something the Conservatives are serious about. We have already implemented a plan to restrict grass cutting to allow wildflowers to flourish in the summer and I want to see more cycle lanes, more sustainable transport and a joined-up approach to finding answers to how we protect the Isle of Wight.”
Dave Stewart added he hoped organisations and the Greens would support the idea and attend any summit, if the Conservatives win in May.
“This is not about party politics because we all live on this island. This is about a joint, island-wide approach to do the best we can to protect our home.”
