Isle Of Wight Council Chair Visits Westminster To Discuss Island Interests With MPs

The Chair of the Isle of Wight Council has visited Westminster after being invited by Isle of Wight West MP Richard Quigley, gaining a close-up look at how national decisions are shaped and how both Island MPs are representing local interests in Parliament.

During the trip, the Chair toured the Palace of Westminster, taking in the House of Commons, the House of Lords and several of the historic corridors and committee rooms that form the heart of British democracy.

The visit provided a rare behind-the-scenes view of how parliamentary business is conducted day-to-day, alongside the centuries of tradition and history that underpin it.

A key part of the visit was a constructive discussion with Richard Quigley MP on the Ministry of Defence’s engagement with the Isle of Wight.

Several important local issues were raised, stressing the value of strong communication between the Island’s representatives and central Government.

Speaking after the visit, the Chair said:

“It was a real pleasure to visit Westminster and to see first-hand the energy and commitment being shown on behalf of the Isle of Wight.

"The visit included a fascinating tour of the Houses of Parliament, and our discussion about MOD engagement with the Island was both constructive and welcome.

"The Secretary of State for Defence, the right honourable John Healey MP, had written to me last year, and I saw him very briefly in the depths of Westminster — which, to reassure Harry Potter fans, really does look like Hogwarts.

"Later that evening, I was also pleased to catch up with Joe Robertson and have a brief chat about issues in the East, and it was good to see some Isle of Wight exports stocked in the bar!

"Westminster is full of history and tradition, and has the most amazing architecture.

"It was reassuring to see that, amid all the grandeur, hard work is being done on the issues that matter most to Island residents.

"It certainly makes you feel that while the corridors may be ancient, the conversations are very much about today — and the representation we have there now is the best it’s been in a long time.”