Isle of Wight MP Bob Seely has put forward the Solent Ferry Regulator Bill to Parliament seeking to regulate cross-Solent ferries – the last Bill to be presented before the General Election.
Keeping to his promise, Mr Seely – in one of his last acts as a sitting MP before Parliament is dissolved next week – has put forward a proposal to create an independent regulator for ferry services to and from the Isle of Wight.
The regulator would aim to promote competition, drive down prices and improve the service for Islanders.
This Bill follows Bob Seely’s 21-page report into the Isle of Wight Ferry services earlier this year which you can read here.
Now the general election has been called, the Bill will not progress further in its current form but it could be considered again after the election.
A second reading will be held on 5th July – described as ‘wishful thinking’ by the Speaker of the House, Lindsay Hoyle.
Bob Seely MP has said:
“Over the past 20 years the ferries have become slower, less frequent, more expensive and less reliable, and we have seen further disruption this week.
“Following the publication of my reports into the cross-Solent ferries, Islanders have made it very clear to me that they support both a ferry regulator and new entrants into the market. This Bill would create the former while I continue to champion the latter.
“While the snap general election means this Bill will now have to wait, I said I would present a Bill in this Parliament and I have.
“I promise that If I am re-elected on the 4th July, I will continue to proceed with this proposal, and championing the interests of Islanders more widely.”
