Richard Quigley MP Calls For Fairer Funding For Isle Of Wight In Westminster Debate

Isle of Wight West MP Richard Quigley has called on the Government to introduce fairer funding for coastal communities, using the Island as an example of the challenges faced by areas affected by isolation and hidden deprivation.

Speaking during a Westminster Hall debate today (Tuesday), Mr Quigley said the Isle of Wight has been overlooked by successive governments because current funding formulas fail to reflect the true level of need in coastal communities.

He told MPs:

"Communities like mine often feel isolated not just from funding and opportunity, but from the national conversation.

"The challenges facing the Isle of Wight have, in recent years, rarely made headlines or shaped the political agenda, but that does not make them any less real or important to those of us who live there."

During the debate, Mr Quigley highlighted issues including poor transport links, an ageing population, pressure on health and social care services, lower average wages and limited economic opportunities.

He also pointed to research from the University of Portsmouth, which found it costs the Isle of Wight an additional £23 million simply to stand still compared with a similarly sized mainland authority because of its separation from the mainland.

Mr Quigley argued that existing measures of deprivation often fail to identify areas where hardship is spread across communities, meaning some coastal areas miss out on funding.

Responding on behalf of the Government, Minister for Devolution, Local Growth and Communities Nesil Caliskan MP acknowledged the unique challenges facing the Island.

She said:

"Places like the Isle of Wight are often thought of as postcards of national pride. As they should be.

"But behind these postcards, they face distinctive challenges – geographical isolation, poorer connectivity, deprivation and barriers to opportunity."

The minister also said she was "particularly shocked" by the cost of ferry travel to and from the Island, describing it as "extraordinary" given the importance of transport links to the local economy.

She highlighted the Government's plans to develop new tools to better identify transport connectivity and affordability as part of its Child Poverty Strategy.

Concluding the debate, Mr Quigley said the impact of isolation goes beyond geography:

"Too often, when we talk about isolation, we focus on geography.

"But the real cost of isolation and deprivation is a human one.

"It is the opportunity not taken, the treatment not received, the family not visited, and the support that arrives too late or not at all.

"Until we recognise that reality in our funding, our policymaking and our public services, communities like the Isle of Wight will continue to face barriers that many others never have to think about."

Mr Quigley said he would continue campaigning for funding formulas that better reflect the needs of the Isle of Wight and other coastal communities.