Isle of Wight MP, Bob Seely, has welcomed the announcement by the Government of a new 'Islands Forum' aimed at giving independent UK islands more of a voice.
As part of the Levelling Up Agenda, Michael Gove has announced an Island Forum.
The proposed forum will allow Government to hear and learn from island communities across the UK.
The Isle of Wight is among areas that face common challenges such as connectivity, travel, infrastructure, and depopulation.
Through the Forum, attendees will be able to share experiences and learn from success to overcome these challenges, as it plans to unite and level up every corner of the United Kingdom, while working closely with the devolved Governments.
In Parliament, Mr Seely said:
"I thank the Secretary of State so much for taking forward the Islands Forum idea. Can he assure us that the Islands Forum will give a voice to islands, such as the Isle of Wight, to be part of the prosperity agenda: in education, in high quality jobs as well as landscape and escape protection for some of the most unique and beautiful parts of Great Britain?”
In responding, Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, said:
“The Islands Forum is an idea developed following conversations and advocacy from my Honourable Friend [Seely] because we recognise absolutely, as he has consistently pointed out, that there are particular challenges that island communities face that are the result of distance and dispersal and we need to tackle them.”
Speaking afterwards, Mr Seely said:
“I am very grateful to Michael Gove for agreeing, accepting and adopting my suggestion on a national forum for UK islands. This will enable the Island, working with other islands, to have a collective voice at the heart of Government.
"Those goals must be around education, training and skills, high-quality jobs, improvement to towns, transport as well as the protection of the landscape and seascape for some of the most precious parts of the United Kingdom.
“I want to thank and pay tribute to the work by David Pugh on this as well.
“Thus far, from the Levelling Up plans, we know that the Island will be an Education Investment Area, which will help to recruit more good teachers - and retain them - and drive up standards, helping every child on the Island to have the promise of a better future. Education Minister Nadhim Zahawi will say more in the coming weeks.
"We have already got the £5.8 million Levelling Up bid money to help East Cowes after my intervention to make sure that the Island was included in Round One as a priority.”
Isle Of Wight MP Bob Seely Announces Blueprint To Fund A3055 Improvements
New 2024/5 Annual Waste And Recycling Guide Out Soon
Platform One Announces Winner Of 2024 Wight Noize Competition
Royal Duke To Visit As Newport Minster Reopens
Isle Of Wight Council To Support 'No Mow May' 2024
English Coastal Path Complication Amid Osborne House Queen Victoria Collection Fears
Seaview Pub Picks Up National Award
Isle Of Wight Radio Child Of Wight Awards 2024 Nominations Now Open
Fire Service Issues Water Safety And Mud Rescue Advice For Isle Of Wight
New Online Cancer Support For Local Residents
Specialist Monitoring Equipment Now Installed At Leeson Road
West Wight Runner Jackie Follows PB Marathon Run With Eastenders Appearance
West Wight Pub Can Now Be Listed As 'Asset Of Community Value'
Royal Navy 'Bomb Squad' Called To Seaview Following Ordnance Alert
Automated Gates Arrive On Wightlink’s FastCat Foot Passenger Route
Help Keep Isle Of Wight Streets Neat – Bring Your Bin In
Two Passengers Injured Following Bus Crash In Ryde
Late Night Reports Of Collision Spark Extensive Land, Sea And Air Search
Islanders Taking On London Marathon Today For Local Charities
Four Men Arrested Following Rogue Trader Activities In East Cowes
