EAST MP ASKS SECRETARY OF STATE TO INTERVENE ON CROSS-SOLENT FERRIES
The new MP for Isle of Wight East, Joe Robertson, has written to the Secretary of State for Transport this week requesting action on cross-Solent ferries.
Joe Robertson was elected to Parliament on 4th July pledging to deal with ferries by seeking Government intervention. He set about raising the issue in his first television appearance on Politics South with Peter Henley 3 days later.
Now, Mr Robertson is engaging directly with the Government by asking Secretary of State, Louise Haigh MP, to intervene.
The MP’s letter says that:
“Ticket prices are expensive, at times extortionate, and the services are increasingly unreliable. The timetables have been thinned down over the years so that crossings are less regular.
“Having grown up on the Island, I have seen for myself how the services have got worse over the last 30 years while the various corporate owners of the ferry companies have loaded them with debt.”
The letter goes on to say;:
“It is now obvious the only way of addressing the very considerable problems we face is through government intervention. The companies have a primary obligation to maximise profit for their shareholders and will not bring about the change that we need by themselves.
“In any case, it should be obvious that a lifeline service connecting an island population of over 140,000 people cannot be left to an unchecked, unregulated free market. We have over three decades of evidence that it is unfair and it does not work.”
Mr Robertson concludes by referring to the Government’s intention to nationalise the train network as set out in the King’s Speech on 17th July. He says that the intended legislation presents a ‘perfect opportunity’ to introduce a formal role for Government in the way Isle of Wight ferries are operated.
Joe has requested a meeting with the Minister, together with Richard Quigley, MP for Isle of Wight West, to discuss how to best move forward.
