Jonathan Bacon Back In The Isle of Wight Council Driving Seat

Independent councillor Jonathan Bacon has been elected as the leader of the Isle of Wight Council.

The Brading and St Helens representative received 28 votes, with nine councillors backing Liberal Democrat rival Andrew Garratt and two abstentions.

Reform UK councillor Bill Nigh has been elected as deputy leader.

Cllr Bacon previously led the local authority from 2015 until January 2017 when he resigned, saying he could no longer deal with continued government austerity.

In the council’s last term, he oversaw controversial plans to close five primary schools before resigning in March 2025 ahead of a vote to close primaries in Cowes and Arreton but keep open those in Brading, Ryde and Wroxall.

At the time, he accused his fellow cabinet members of an ‘unacceptable’ last minute turnaround.