STARMER SAYS ISLE OF WIGHT FERRIES HAVE ‘SIMPLY NOT BEEN GOOD ENOUGH’

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said in the House of Commons this lunchtime (Wednesday) that ferry services to and from the Isle of Wight have ‘not been good enough’, and promises that the Maritime Minister will hold further meetings with Wightlink, Red Funnel and Hovertravel.

Joe Robertson, MP for Isle of Wight East, stood up during today’s Prime Minister’s Questions to ask whether or not the Government agrees that the anomaly surrounding Isle of Wight cross-Solent travel must come to an end.

In his address, Mr Robertson said:

“My constituents on the Isle of Wight are entirely reliant on foreign-owned, debt-laden and unregulated ferry companies for essential travel. But in the United Kingdom public transport is regulated and subsidized.

“Does the Prime Minister agree that the Isle of Wight anomaly must come to an end?

“Will the Government intervene to protect passengers from excessive prices and bad services?”.

In response, Labour’s leader Keir Starmer acknowledged that ferry services have not been good enough.

He said:

“I thank him for raising this. He is right, ferry services for his constituency have simply not been good enough.

“I know that he and my right honourable friend for Isle of Wight West [Richard Quigley] share a commitment to ensuring their constituents receive a better service.

“The Maritime Minister has met with ferry and hovertravel operators, the leader of the council and other stakeholders and there will be further meetings.  I will ensure he [Joe Robertson] is kept informed of progress”.