Cabinet minister, Michael Gove, is due on the Isle of Wight today (Wednesday), to chair the second Islands Forum.

The event is being held on the Island over two days. 

Representatives from ten UK islands, including the Western Isles in Scotland, Wales' Anglesey and Rathlin, in Northern Ireland, will be welcomed.

The Islands Forum is seen as a direct link to Government, for UK islands.

Isle of Wight MP Bob Seely campaigned to make it happen as a way to the Island's "voice heard at the heart of government."

The leader of the Isle of Wight Council is promising to be outspoken about our needs, as previously reported by the County Press.

Speaking last year, Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Michael Gove MP said: "Island communities contribute richly to the UK and share their own unique set of challenges as well as opportunities.

"The Islands Forum creates a space for islanders to work together and give feedback directly to the Government, ensuring that islands can be even better places for people to work and live."

The theme of this week's forum will be sustainable economic growth, focussing on innovation and skills.

Sessions will be led by the Migration Advisory Committee and the Shetland Islands Council.

The first Island Forum took place in Orkney, in September and the issue of transitioning to net zero was discussed.