Four Candidates Compete For Brighstone, Calbourne And Shalfleet Council Seat Ahead Of May Election

Four candidates are in the running for the Brighstone, Calbourne and Shalfleet seat on the Isle of Wight Council, as voters prepare to head to the polls on May 7.

The rural ward contest features representatives from the Conservatives, Reform UK, the Liberal Democrats and an Independent candidate.

As part of pre-election coverage, candidates were invited to submit 100-word profiles outlining their priorities.

Kim Frances Jeffreys (Local Conservatives)

Kim Frances Jeffreys says she has lived on the Island for nearly 20 years with her husband, describing it as home.

Before retiring to the Isle of Wight, she led an international development team for a global logistics organisation and later worked for an Island-based brain cancer charity for nine years.

She says she is passionate about local issues and believes decisions should be made for the right reasons and delivered effectively to support communities.

Vincent Hamilton Speed (Reform UK)

No candidate statement was provided.

Nick Stuart (Liberal Democrats, incumbent councillor)

Nick Stuart is standing again to continue working on local issues affecting residents, as well as wider challenges facing the Island.

He says he has helped address transport disruption linked to major projects, pushed for action on flooding prevention, planning enforcement, adult social care and Council Tax concerns.

He adds that his group focuses on tackling poverty, supporting local jobs and protecting the environment, with particular attention to ancient woodland.

He says he aims to use evidence-based decision making to put Islanders first.

Ed Surridge (Independent)

Ed Surridge says he is standing on a platform of replacing traditional councillor roles with local citizens’ assemblies, with decision-making carried out by randomly selected residents.

He says elected councillors should pass their allowance to support this model, which he argues would increase trust and transparency in local democracy.

He adds he has 40 years of connection to the Island and no party affiliation or external interests, and describes himself as a trained assemblies coordinator.