THE first meeting of a new forum for Islands begins today (Wednesday), and the Isle of Wight is invited.

Island communities are at the heart of the new Prime Minister’s drive for spreading opportunity and prosperity across the country, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Nadhim Zahawi, will tell attendees.

The event, which is hosted by Orkney Island Council, will bring together ministers and representatives from ten councils for the first time, to improve collaboration between mainland and island organisations.

Representatives from our Island, as well as from Scotland's Bute, Islay, Mull, Coll and more, and also from the Isles of Scilly and Wales' Anglesey, have all been invited.

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The forum will be chaired by cabinet office minister for Intergovernmental Relations, Nadhim Zahawi.

He will say the purpose of the group is to establish a platform for listening, and airing issues.

Minister Zahawi will call for collaboration similar to what was required during the pandemic, where he was tasked with ensuring all UK citizens had access to jabs in his role as vaccines minister. 

He will recall how organisations worked together to allow the armed forces to airlift patients from islands to the mainland for urgent treatment.

One of the areas of focus for the discussion will be net zero, recognising islands are test beds for net zero innovations, but face significant barriers to transitioning.