A plan to create a 'people's champion' for Isle of Wight East, at the next general election, has been welcomed by some candidates and slammed by others.

Organisers are calling it a 'progressive alliance' that is trying to defeat the Conservative candidate in the newly-created region but the Conservative candidate for the area says the process is undemocratic.

At the next vote, the Isle of Wight will have two constituencies - Isle of Wight East and Isle of Wight West.

In the east, which includes Sandown, Shanklin and Ryde, meetings are being held with a view of decide which non-Conservative candidate has the best chance of carrying the most votes.

We asked the candidates themselves for their thoughts, some of who have been invited to attend, to answer questions from the public.

Michael Lilley, Liberal Democrat, said: “Rather than seeing the election about getting the Tories out, shouldn’t we be looking at getting a good local MP for East Wight who will tackle issues such as ferry regulation, coastal erosion, flooding, sewage into the sea, poverty, carers, realities of climate change, unfair planning decisions, lack of NHS dentists and lack of well-paid stable jobs?

"Fifty years ago, a good local people’s champion, the late Steve Ross, came from third place to beat the long-standing Conservative MP for the then Liberal Party.

"He fought his campaign on the issues facing Islanders. He had a strong track record.

"I welcome the opportunity to speak to local residents about the issues that matter to them throughout the constituency, as we need an MP who champions their views.

"The East Wight Primary provides an opportunity.”

Green Party National Spokesperson for Education, Vix Lowthion, Green Party candidate, said she plans to attend.

She said: "As this seat is new and there is no sitting MP, working for a change of government through defeating the Conservative candidate is indeed a goal - but not the only goal.

"Clean beaches, improvements in public services, fairer ferries, protection for our green spaces and greater opportunities for young people will be amongst the policies I will stand for. I look forward to meeting with voters."

She supports engaging with residents. with a view to boosting election participation.

Conservative candidate, Joe Robertson, said: "The people’s champion is the candidate chosen at the General Election when every person gets a chance to vote, not someone anointed at town hall meetings, where it seems only the Liberal Democrats and Green Party will appear.

"While these inward-looking political gatherings are taking place, I will be continuing to talk to fellow residents on the doorstep about the things that matter most, like supporting local schools, improving community healthcare and promoting business and jobs.

"As a professional adviser for a national nursing charity, and as a school literacy campaigner helping to place over 70 volunteers in Island primary schools, I believe I am best placed to represent our shared priorities in Parliament. The Island is my home. It’s where I grew up and it comes first."

Sarah Morris, Reform, said: "Ordinarily I‘d say that anything encouraging more people to vote and talk about politics is a good thing.

"However, these events are truly undemocratic. I asked to be included, but was refused because I am deemed too right-wing and not progressive enough.

"One of the main reasons I decided to stand as an MP is to protect our freedoms. Freedom of speech means you let someone speak even if you don’t like what they might say. People being silenced/cancelled only stifles debate. 

"Reform UK will protect our personal, political and economic freedoms." 

Meanwhile, the Labour Party, which has yet to name a candidate, said the party's policy is not to enter candidates into the primary network events, but added "this does not prevent Labour members from participating in the hustings and the “People’s Champion” vote.

There is no named Labour candidate for the East Wight yet. The process is ongoing. Labour will remain on the East Wight Primary ballot paper, however.