Island Life Magazine Ltd February/March 2015 | Page 107
ANDREW TURNER MP
Andrew Turner MP
The Riverside Centre,
The Town Quay, Newport
01983 530808
[email protected]
www.islandmp.org
Exciting plans ahead
W
ell, we’re now well into the
New Year and 2015 looks to
be a positive year for the Island
with a number of exciting plans in place.
Following my debate on IW ferry services
in October, I have arranged a meeting
with the Transport Minister, the Rt. Hon
John Hayes MP, together with Cllr. Ian
Stephens, Leader of the Isle of Wight
Council, to discuss how best to move
forward our exciting plans for the Island’s
transport system.
This follows the Council’s unanimous
motion to support the formation of a
Transport Infrastructure Task Force, with
experts taking a comprehensive view of
the future transport needs of the Island.
I am also discussing the plans with other
potential partners, including all three
ferry services and Go Ahead, the owners
of Southern Vectis. The need for a total
review of the Island’s transport has been
recognised and I have worked hard to get
Government support to move forward
on an initiative to provide improvements
across all areas of Island transport.
I have, as always, been asking lots of
questions in the Chamber, ensuring the
needs of the Isle of Wight are highlighted
at every opportunity. I recently asked
the Prime Minister to acknowledge the
important Perpetuus Tidal Energy Centre
project, to be sited off St. Catherine’s,
putting the UK at the forefront of tidal
energy technology.
This project will not only protect existing
jobs but will also create several hundred
more. It is very important to raise the
profile of such innovative projects
happening on the Island. Commitment
and support from Government ministers
can only help the tremendous work
being undertaken by Island people and
businesses, strengthen our economy and
ensure the Island stays on the map when
it comes to important decisions.
I was very pleased to have been re-elected
to the executive of the 1922 committee
last year. Also known as ‘the 22’, it is how
Conservative backbench MPs keep in touch
with the leadership of the party. We meet
every week when Parliament is sitting and
we have direct access to the Prime Minister.
Over my 14 years as the Island’s MP
I have built strong relationships with
Members of Parliament on all sides of
the House – daily political life bears
little resemblance to what goes on at
Prime Minister’s questions every week.
Instead you often find support for Island
initiatives from unexpected quarters. One
good example is that in 2007, when I was
shadow minister for Charities, I worked on
the new Charities Bill with Ed Miliband,
then Minister for the Cabinet Office. In
2011 I was able to secure his support, by
now Leader of the Labour Party, for the
successful OneWight campaign, fighting
to prevent parts of the Island being
included in a cross-Solent constituency
with an area of the mainland. Politics is a
funny old game!
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