'Empowering Islanders' Formed As Ruling Alliance Group Loses Four Councillors

Monday, 15 May 2023 09:16

By Louise Hill LDR

The Isle of Wight Council’s ruling administration has suffered another blow after two more councillors — including an executive leader — jumped ship to form a new group.

The Empowering Islanders group has been created on the Isle of Wight Council — with members Cllr Dave Adams, Chris Jarman, John Medland and Peter Spink.

Two members, Cllr Adams and Jarman, are the latest to leave the Alliance Group — meaning it has lost four councillors in one week.

It means the Conservatives are now the biggest group on the Isle of Wight Council. The party has three more councillors than the ruling Alliance administration.

Empowering Islanders is now the third biggest group on the authority, ahead of the Liberal Democrats who now have three seats after Cllr Michael Lilley joined them earlier this week.

Cllr Jarman, who has been part of the council since May 2021, has been appointed leader of the group.

He currently holds one of the most important portfolios on the council’s cabinet, in charge of the authority’s finances.

Cllr Spink last week left the Conservative party at County Hall, originally saying he would stand as an independent Conservative before joining Empowering Islanders.

Cllr Medland confirmed his resignation from the Alliance today after saying he had had some doubts for some time and did not like how ‘divided’ the council was, feeling more could be done if they worked together as a whole for the Island’s interest.

In a statement issued after the resignation of Cllr Medland, Cllr Jonathan Bacon, the Alliance’s spokesperson, said he knew of the intent to form a new group, but that the councillors had indicated they did not wish to see the “council leadership change”.

At the time, he said he had no concerns over recent exits and called it “a very small storm in an insignificant teacup.”

Cllr Bacon has been contacted for an updated comment.

On the Isle of Wight Council, there are now: 16 Conservative councillors; 13 Alliance members, who are either independent or The Green Party; four Empowering Islanders; three Liberal Democrats; one Labour member; one independent Labour; and an independent councillor, Cllr Daryll Pitcher, who was jailed for historic child sex offences last month.