Earlier today, Joe Robertson, the newly elected Member of Parliament for Isle of Wight East, delivered his maiden speech in the House of Commons. Following parliamentary tradition, Joe paid tribute to his predecessor, Bob Seely, acknowledging his contribution to our nation’s understanding of Russia, Ukraine, and international relations more widely. Joe also acknowledged Andrew Turner’s sixteen years of service as a former MP.
In his speech, Joe celebrated the generosity and community spirit of Isle of Wight residents, making special mention of Sally Grylls and her tireless work campaigning for better dementia care and support for family carers, and Kirsty Chapman at Ventnor’s Better Days Café.
Joe went on to talk about the Island’s towns and its visitor economy, referring to Brading Roman Villa, the Wildheart Animal Sanctuary, and Havenstreet Steam Railway.
Joe’s speech comes as Island resident Sir Ben Ainslie and his team prepare for their America’s Cup Campaign in a few days’ time. The original race took place in 1851 around the Isle of Wight but Britain has famously never won it. Joe said, “I send Sir Ben, Sir Jim and the whole team my sincere best wishes to go and bring back the Cup and return it to the Isle of Wight where it belongs.”
In accordance with the normal custom for maiden speeches, Joe finished by setting out what he hopes to achieve in his time in Parliament, focusing on reforms in health and social care and securing Government intervention on Isle of Wight ferry services. He drew upon his experience as a former employee of Dementia UK, saying the best reform the NHS could have, is dealing with the crisis in social care which would relieve pressures on hospitals. On ferries he said that if the Government did not include ferries in its plans for integrated rail and buses, then Isle of Wight residents risk becoming the only UK community entirely reliant on unregulated, foreign owned, debt laden companies for essential travel. He concluded that this should not be allowed to happen.
