MP Bob Seely has urged Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to resolve a 50-year issue of support for local services on the Island.
The Isle of Wight is the only island in Britain not to receive additional funding due to its geographic isolation. The Isles of Scilly receive a multiplier of 1.5 and Scottish islands benefit from a Special Islands Needs Allowance.
For the financial years 2022/23 and 2023/24, the Government agreed to provide an additional £2 million to the Isle of Wight Council in recognition of the additional costs it bears for being an island separated by sea, however, a fairer and permanent funding solution is being sought by the Island’s MP.
Speaking during Prime Minister’s Questions today (22 March) Mr Seely said:
“The Island has been getting a better deal in recent years, and I thank the Prime Minister for that, especially before he was Prime Minister, when he was working with me in different roles in Government to make that happen.
“However, the Island remains the only sizeable island in the UK, without a fixed link and separated from the mainland by sea, which does not receive a funding uplift to support Local Government services.
"This injustice has been ongoing now for 50 years. All the evidence shows that it costs more to provide local services on an Island than on the mainland.
“Will the Prime Minister work with me and his ministers to overcome this injustice this year?"
The Island’s MP also spoke at length about this issue during a Parliamentary debate on Monday (20 March).
In response to the question put directly to him today, the Prime Minister said:
“Can I thank my honourable friend for his continued campaigning on behalf of his constituents. It was a pleasure to spend many happy childhood holidays on the Island and I enjoyed visiting him more recently there as well.
"The Isle of Wight Council will benefit from a 10% increase in their funding in cash terms for the next financial year and have been awarded an additional million pounds in recognition of the unique circumstances of the Island, as my honourable friend points out, but I will ensure that he does get a meeting with the Minister for Local Government to carry on the good work that he and I started and make sure that his local constituents get the support that they need."
Mr Seely will be meeting with the Local Government Minister next week to discuss this issue further.
