While our MP Bob Seely was patting himself on the back last week for ‘winning’ a £5.8m levelling up bid for East Cowes, the Isles of Scilly have been awarded £48 million to improve their ferries and increase connectivity between their islands and the mainland.

Congratulations to the Scillonians for achieving this level of investment in critical connectivity for their island communities.

Meanwhile, our own cross-Solent ferries are currently delivering some of the worst levels of service that I can ever remember.

Only last week, the Southampton-Cowes route was severely disrupted after breakdowns and even a fire on board.

This week, vital commuter services were cancelled due to staff shortage. Not forgetting that the last catamaran now leaves Portsmouth at 8.20pm.

Our ferry services are expensive, infrequent and increasingly unreliable. Whereas other island communities are getting significant levels of financial support from the government.

Why isn’t the IW getting this level of funding?

Whatever happened to that much-promoted Island Deal? Does anyone still believe that pledge was ever going to be delivered?

Or is it yet another empty promise from this MP?