the gazette isle of wight
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WIN! Simply Red tickets Page 4
Election results Page 3
Making Island roads safer Page 16
In Lifestyle: John Giddings Interview
‘Keep your focus’, Island MP warns local Tories
By Peter White
ISLAND MP Andrew Turner has warned the Conservative-controlled IW Council they must ‘keep sharp focus’ during difficult economic times, following the party’s success at the local elections. Mr Turner welcomed the success of the Island’s Conservatives in last week’s IW Council elections, but insisted that a tight grip had to be kept on purse strings and any future Council Tax rises kept as low as possible. The 55-year-old, who first entered Parliament in 2001, has also revealed he intends to stand again for the position of Island MP at the next General Election. His announcement comes despite being among a number of MPs whose expenses claims were exposed by a national newspaper. The Daily Telegraph made it known that among his claims Mr Turner charged nearly
Praying for a safe Tory future? Island MP Andrew Turner at the count
£9,000 costs of an employment tribunal against him. But he has shrugged off the publicity to look forward confidently to the future. Commenting on the local election results, he said: “The IW Council needs to continue to keep a sharp focus on providing key essential services and ensure that resources are used to best effect, as Council Tax rises need to
be kept to a minimum. “We have to be prepared for the possibility that the difficult economic climate will continue longer than the Government predicts and may lead to reduced central funding in the future, so it is important that limited funding available is targeted on the areas in which it is most needed.” As Gordon Brown clings grimly to his
post as Prime Minister, Mr Turner admits he is looking forward to the possibility of a Conservative government in the not-too-distant future and said that he would work with the new Council to ensure that the Island got the best possible deal. “It would be the first time that the Island had both a Conservative MP and a Conservative Council who would be
working to implement the policies of a Conservative Government and it would be a very exciting and challenging time,” he maintained. Mr Turner also paid tribute to former Island councillors who had retired or lost their seats in the shake-up as well as those who were unsuccessful in being elected to the Council. He pointed out that for democracy to flourish it needed local people to stand up and be counted and to challenge the ideas and policies of others. He added: “The Labour vote fell dramatically, but that was due to the national picture and was not really a reflection on the local candidates. I was most surprised at the rise of the Independent councillors who had polled more votes than the Liberal Democrats despite standing in only 16 divisions.” • See page 3 for full IW Council election results
More Bestival acts announced
MORE acts have been confirmed for this year’s Bestival. Mika and The Hot Rats are among the latest names that are set to appear, along with Benga, Benji B, Bobby Friction, The Loose Cannons, Grum and Hudson Mohawke. The event takes place at Robin Hill Country Park on September 11, 12 and 13. Sunday Best’s latest signing Lemonade will also be performing along with local group Shanklin Freak Show, Ohbijou, Ross Allen, Skibunny, Stardeath and White Dwarfs, Sunny Day Sets Fire and The Acorn. Kraftwerk, Massive Attack and Elbow will headline the 3-day event, which has won the Best Medium Festival at the UK Festival Awards three times.
Mika: heading for Robin Hill
Simple Minds’ Jim: ‘be proud of your fantastic festival’ JIM KERR, lead singer of rock group Simple Minds, has expressed his delight at being able to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the band by appearing at this weekend’s Isle of Wight Festival. Simple Minds will be on the main stage at the Seaclose site in Newport on Sunday ahead of headline act Neil Young. And Jim has promised fans a night to remember. “This is my first time on the Island and I have been really looking forward to playing here. I know festival organiser John Giddings very well, and I think since its re-birth the festival has been fantastic,” said Jim. “I think the whole community should be proud of what is put on each year, and I am sure each festival must take all of the 12 months in between to organise. We will be going out there and doing our best to make sure it is another memorable occasion.” Read the full exclusive Gazette interview with Jim Kerr on page 2.