Bob Seely, former MP:

I wish the new Isle of Wight West MP well.  It’s a demanding but rewarding role. 

He has clearly already had a baptism of fire after foolishly deciding to toe the party line to slash winter fuel payments for thousands of our Island’s pensioners.

In addition, public disbelief at Sir Keir Starmer’s love of free gifts and clothes - £100,000 worth and counting - is dissolving support for the new Government quicker than a collapsing soufle.

However, it is important to tell the truth. Mr Quigley told the County Press that, “for the first time”, ministers and civil servants are aware of our ferry issues. 

If he is referring to the Conservative time in office, this is simply false. 

I bought up the ferries, either as an issue on its own or in relation to other Island issues, with Ministers in Parliament on the following dates (and minsters are always accompanied by civil servants).

3 July 2017, 16 January 2018, 9 May 2018, 27 June 2018, 5 March 2019, 1 October 2019, 16 October 2019, 27 January 2020, 16 March 2020, 17 March 2020, 23 March 2020, 12 January 2021, 25 May 2021, 15 June 2021, 9 September 2021, 2 November 2021, 23 November 2021, 7 February 2022, 6 September 2022, 20 October 2022, 26 January 2023, 20 March 2023, 22 May 2023, 23 November 2023, 26 March 2024.

This list does not include: 

Letters and meetings with ministers and Prime Ministers.

Conversations with the Transport Secretary of State and his advisors over my report.

The laying of the Solent Ferry Bill.

Negotiations with the Prime Minister’s office which finally resulted in a potentially game-changing ‘all options’ review of the Solent ferries in the Conservative Party manifesto.

Conservative ministers, Prime Ministers, advisors and civil servants were very aware of the ferry issue - I made sure they were.

Anyway, I wish him luck.

The way things are going, he is going to need it.