MP Bob Seely thinks the government will treat the Isle of Wight as a separate case when the Covid-19 tiers system return in December.

He has been seeking assurances from the Government over the weekend, he says.

Mr Seely said he is concerned that combining the Island’s infection rates with areas such as Portsmouth and Southampton - where rates are much higher - skew the true picture of what is really happening here.

He said: “It would be entirely wrong to combine the Isle of Wight with mainland areas with higher covid rates. The Island is separated by several miles of water from these locations, and therefore it should be seen as an entity separate from its neighbours.

“I have spoken with the Secretary of State for Health, his advisors and Ministers over the weekend to make the case that when allocating tiers, the Island must be considered independently.

“It is important that Ministers recognise that we are an Island and I will keep making that case.”

Mr Seely says Health Secretary Matt Hancock 'had indicated that the Government was looking to treat the Island ‘as an island’'.

Leader of the Isle of Wight Council, Dave Stewart, said: “I am pleased our MP is leading this approach to Government – it reflects what many Islanders feel.

“We have worked hard to keep our infection rates low and deserve recognition for all that effort. I hope Government take this into account as they finalise their plans and thank Bob Seely for making representations on our behalf.”