Isle of Wight Council by-election candidates announced

It follows the resignation of senior Conservative councillor, Steve Hastings, earlier this month who said he had become disillusioned with politics locally and nationally.

His resignation triggered a by-election in the Brighstone, Calbourne and Shalfleet ward and voters will head to the polls on November 24.

So far, five Islanders have put their name in the running to fill the empty seat and join the 38 other members of the Isle of Wight Council.

Here is who has announced they are standing so far ...

Doug Alldred - Green Party

Mr Alldred, a musician, was one of the three candidates vying for this seat in 2021 but came third.

He has since been on Brighstone Parish Council and helped residents with flooding, planning and highways issues.

Mr Alldred said he was proud to be able to stand to represent the area he grew up in.

He said: "The Green Party councillors in County Hall have already made a real difference and I hope voters will give me the chance to join them in the Alliance Administration where I’ll be able to have a real say in improvements and protections for this incredibly precious environment and community."

Carol Bryan - Conservative Party

Mrs Bryan has previously been chair of Totland Parish Council and helped contribute during her time to a wide range of projects in the local community.

In 2021, she narrowly missed out on the Isle of Wight Council seat in Totland and Colwell, losing by ten votes.

Mrs Bryan now works part-time in a care home in the West Wight and the Island Conservatives say she is keen to use her experiences for the benefit of residents in the ward.

Gary Clarke - Labour Party

Mr Clarke, a former teacher at Sandown High School, was the Labour candidate in the 2021 elections for Lake North, where he finished third.

An Isle of Wight Labour Party secretary said Mr Clarke was an active party member and both he and members look forward to campaigning in the Brighstone, Calbourne and Shalfleet ward, meeting electors and listening to their concerns during November.

Nick Stuart - Liberal Democrat

Mr Stuart, a former civil servant and school teacher turned fencing coach, came second in 2021 for the Brighstone, Calbourne and Shalfleet Ward.

He is a parish councillor on Brighstone Parish Council and Calbourne, Porchfield and Newtown Parish Council and has worked with residents on traffic, parking and environmental issues.

"If elected," he said, "I will carry on talking to and helping residents while representing our interest in the council and other groups on the Island."

Stephen J. Parkes - Vectis Party

Mr Parkes, a musician by trade, is a member of Shanklin Town Council and stood in the 2021 elections for Sandown North as an independent candidate.

He has pledged to tackle issues in the ward such as public transport, local services and over-development.

The Vectis Party says with the chaos in national politics at the moment it was time to send a message to Westminster with voters choosing change, choosing local and choosing them on November 24.

People have until 4pm today (Friday) to deliver their registration forms to County Hall in Newport, should they wish to stand.