What does Vix think about…..

Declaring a climate emergency is only the first step - we now need real, meaningful action to mitigate and adapt to the climate crisis and to move at pace. We need a generation of Green MPs who we can trust to invest in projects and protect the future for our children.

For example - a Green New Deal will provide secure jobs for the future, insulate warm homes and help cut the cost of living. It is common sense.

Since 2020, 7 local councils have declared themselves effectively bankrupt as they are under severe financial pressure due to budget cuts. Our IW local council is responsible for many vital services - including waste, recycling, planning, leisure, roads and adult social care. Without adequate funding from government to run these services, our council tax keeps increasing and extra costs pile up for residents (including parking & funeral fees).

The next government must recognise the pressures on local councils to balance the books, and commit to increase their funding.

Walking, running and cycling have huge benefits - both for the physical health and mental wellbeing of individuals and for society as a whole. On the Isle of Wight we have a relatively warm, sunny climate, stunning scenery and a fabulous network of footpaths and bridleways which are used by families, commuters and tourists. But too often they don’t link up or they are poorly maintained.

As a regular walker and cyclist I really value our provision - unless we provide quality infrastructure we will lose the healh benefits that active transport brings.

I was so proud to march through the streets of Ryde with Caroline Lucas, the Green MP, when we hosted the UK Pride in 2018, and I have marched at Pride every year since. Isle of Wight LGBT+ projects such as Out on an Island, Breakout Youth, Queer & Now and marking Transgender Day of Remembrance are doing incredible work and long may this continue.

In addition our island community continues to become more diverse in terms of race and religion, and I remain proud of our multicultural society. I also support the work of Isle Access and their great work to improve accessibility and access for disabled people across the Isle of Wight.

The private, unregulated ferry services that every islander relies upon have come under increasing criticism - and rightly so. We cannot continue with a system that has no public service obligation, but instead sees island residents, visitors and businesses as a way to make money for their investors rather than a service that islanders can afford.

Yes, we need a Solent transport regulator. But we need more - we need our ferries to be run as a public transport service and not for private profit. Until the ferries are ‘fixed’ - with an affordable, reliable and frequent service - then calls for a fixed link of some kind will continue.

Our island economy, education standards, access to jobs, health and wellbeing depend on achieving a fairer ferry service for all.

When was the last time you could access an NHS Dentist? See a GP when you needed one? Get a referral or an appointment with a specialist?

We are rightly proud of our NHS but it has been negatively impacted by decades of privatisation and fragmentation. The recent strikes by doctors, nurses and other workers are symptomatic of a health service which has been dismissed and cut by successive governments. As our population gets older, and demand is rising, we must prioritise integration of health and social care services to ensure that vulnerable people can be cared for in the places that they need to be.

A society which doesn’t prioritise the health and wellbeing of its citizens is storing up greater problems for the future.

We have some of the warmest, generous and most giving people in the world, here on the Isle of Wight. Since I got involved in ‘public life’ I have been privileged to meet and work with some amazing people and organisations. There are just too many to mention here - but include all those volunteers who put on the town carnivals each year, who clean our beaches and plant beautiful flowers, who run church groups, foodbanks and pantries, who man steam train ticket offices or run scout and guide groups, who drive the vulnerable to appointments, fill sandbags, protect wildlife, who speak on community radio, run charity sales and raise money for fantastic causes.

You are the society which makes us, cares for us and protects us. Without you, too many things would fall apart. As your MP I would do everything I can to support our volunteers and community workers. Thank you.

Islanders put on some of the best festivals, carnivals, plays, concerts, shows and events around! The Isle of Wight attracts creatives - artists, musicians, performers - to move here, to grow here and to share their talents. Creativity and the arts provide fantastic opportunities to educate, inform and bring communities together as well as reflect on all the wonder around us and make some sense of the world.

Thanks to local and national organisations, the next few years will see new cultural buildings and events across the new constituency of IW East. It’s a really exciting time! As your MP I would champion our island talent and look to provide even more opportunities for everyone to get involved.

It’s been a tough few years for many island businesses, as they had to grow and diversify after the pandemic. Rising costs, inflation, Brexit, non-domestic rates and the impact of online shopping has seen the transformation of our habits and our high streets across the Isle of Wight.

The Green Party recognises that shopping local doesn’t just benefit the environment and reduce transport miles, but also supports jobs for locals. We have some world-class businesses here - manufacturing, retail, food and more - and as MP I would vote to give them all the support I could, for example through reviewing the system of VAT on goods.

We are living in an increasingly unstable world. The impact of climate change and the scarcity of some resources (such as fossil fuels, fertilizers and water) will need responsible leadership in the years to come.

Our future political leaders must work across national boundaries and co-operate at an international level to tackle these global issues. We need to be resilient and resourceful, but also responsible and collaborative.

I have been a delegate at the European Greens Conference in Riga, Latvia (2022) and seen how agreements can be achieved. We need a similar approach to our foreign policy.

Increasingly we are hearing news of workers striking, marching and gathering to demand higher wages and better working conditions. This is a direct result of government’s failure to listen to the knowledge, expertise and lived experience for workers everywhere.

In 2023 I went on strike for the first time in nearly 2 decades! I did not want to strike - I love my job. But public services are struggling to recruit and retain staff, which negatively impacts everyone, and we needed to take a stand. I am pleased to say that the government then made some moves to raise wages and look at workload (but there’s a long way to go).

Whether it is Red Funnel workers, junior doctors, nurses, teachers… I firmly believe that the right to strike is an important part of democracy and as your MP I would look

Nearly 25% of the Isle of Wight Council’s budget is spent on Adult Social Care and Public Health. It’s almost as big as the entire school’s budget. People who are elderly or living with disabilities or additional needs, or have physical or mental illness may need support to live, stay well and stay safe. The entire care sector needs additional resources, prioritisation and reform.

The Green Party have called for social care to be on a par with the NHS - Care Home Professional say “The Green Party policies are exactly what the social care sector have been asking for for decades”

As MP for East Wight I would put pressure on the government to take the necessary steps to support the care sectors - carers, workers and the most vulnerable people who rely on the service.

Russia’s war on Ukraine, the conflict in Gaza, the instability in Africa and the Middle East - we must prioritise working towards a safer world. And our security should be achieved through defence and peaceful means, not ramping up conflict and aggression.

Diplomacy and co-operation must take precedence over military action. Mutual defence alliances and multilateral security frameworks are the key to achieving this.

Since 2015 I have taken part in the November Remembrance Services at the Minster in Newport and laid a wreath with other political party leaders. Every time I remember the sacrifices of our armed services, and also all civilians who have died during war. We have to work harder to achieve a more peaceful world.

Brexit has not delivered any of the benefits that the politicians promised would be achieved during the referendum campaign. Instead, our country has become poorer, our businesses have even more red tape and immigration levels are not being controlled.

Where is our £350million extra for the NHS? Why are our beaches, coastlines and water quality worse than for many decades? Who has financially benefitted from our withdrawal from the EU - because it’s not been us!

On an individual basis if you wish to travel to Europe now you need an additional authorisation, are limited in the time you can spend there, and opportunities to study have been reduced.

Environmental, social and economic progress will happen through closer ties with our European neighbours - not by isolating ourselves.

What kind of adults do we need in society? What skills should they have, what do they need to know, how can we create a more equal society in the 21st century?

These are the questions that a serious education service would be tackling. And yet, in a world where our young people will face the consequences of the climate crisis, and will need to problem solve, use their initiative and work collaboratively we are still prioritising sitting in rows, cramming for exams and believing that ‘one size fits all’ when it comes to education.

As the national spokesperson for Education since 2016 I could fill a book with my views! But simply: fund SEND children, feed hungry kids, scrap OFSTED, end academisation, modernise the curriculum, provide opportunities outside the classroom, prioritise happy children!

The Conservative Government plans to cut net, legal migration (December 2023) fail to acknowledge the massive benefits that migrants bring to the UK economy and our public services. Our health and care services rely on migrant labour. Our cultural life is enriched by the presence of migrants in our communities. On the Isle of Wight we have welcomed migrants from across the world who work hard, and we should treat them with respect and make them feel welcome.

We need a new government that accepts our legal, international responsibilities and shared obligations to provide clear, safe and legal routes for refugees seeking protection.