MP Richard Quigley led a Westminster Hall debate on Government support for women and girls on the Isle of Wight earlier this week (Tuesday), highlighting the unique challenges they face and calling for targeted action to address these issues.
Richard highlighted how inadequate cross-Solent transport entrenches existing inequalities already faced by women on the mainland, stating:
“The current ferry service offered makes it harder to access healthcare, secure job opportunities, or escape domestic abuse. Challenges that already exist for women and girls on the mainland are infinitely magnified for those effectively penned in by the Solent.”
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Richard also highlighted the lack of provision for survivors of sexual assault or abuse, pointing out that St Mary’s Hospital does not have a dedicated Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC). This means that those seeking support after an assault or rape must travel to the mainland, often in the clothes they were attacked in, just to access help or support.
Richard further raised concerns about domestic abuse services, noting that demand has surged. Domestic abuse-related crimes on the Isle of Wight rose by 25% between 2018 and 2023, yet the island has only one refuge with 6 rooms. As a result, many women have been forced to leave the island entirely, uprooting their homes, communities, and support networks to reach safety, often at great personal and financial cost.
Isle of Wight East MP Joe Robertson also participated in the debate, highlighting the shared commitment of both island MPs to addressing this issue.
In Richard’s concluding remarks he stated:
“(Women and girls on the Island) understand the added challenges that come with living on an island; some extra burdens are to be expected. But the burden we are placing on them now is a burden too far. Whether it’s healthcare inequalities, domestic abuse, limited job opportunities, or the combination of all these factors, the women and girls of the island deserve better. And I will keep fighting to make sure they get it.”
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Responding to the debate on behalf of the government the Minister for Equalities praised Richard for his work across ‘a range of vital equalities issues’ as well as his commitment to ‘social progress and tackling barriers to opportunity’.
Acknowledging the unique challenges faced by women and girls on the island she said:
“It is clear that it is incredibly important to make sure that we are seeing the specific issues where there are inequalities, being tackled”.
She concluded by thanking Richard for putting the specific issues facing women and girls on the Isle of Wight ‘firmly on the agenda and for the work he does do in representing his constituents’
Well Done for trying, Richard. It’s not very often I say that to a politician
Let’s hope he does a better job than he did with the
ferries.
Any news from Richard as to why Labour are planning to
delay local elections until “2028”
I understand Farage is holding a news conference today
to discuss the matter at 3pm
What ever happened to democracy in this country!!
My late father fought in the war for nothing, so sad.
Joe Robertson now attempting to appear concerned about women and girls, despite voting no to the decriminalisation of abortion for women related to their own pregnancies. Classic privileged behaviour thinking he has a say on the body that he does not have or even understand, being a man!! Too busy complaining about his 2nd home he had to sell I suppose.
The current ferry service offered makes it harder to access healthcare, secure job opportunities, or escape domestic abuse.
…
Not really – passenger ferries run regularly
That’s just nonsense. You’d have to be earning well above the minimum wage to be able to commute for work and travel for health care, although reduced, is not free. Living on an Island is an additional issue for those suffering domestic abuse, which often involves lack of access to money, and where time can be of the essence if under threat.
Great initiative, can Richard now swing his support behind getting a full, unfitted and transparent inquiry into grooming/ rape gangs. Many voters are concerned.