Summer Surgery
From 9th August until 18th August I am out and about around the Island on my annual Summer Surgery. Isalnders are welcome to simply turn up - no appointment is necessary. You can find out where I am each day by clicking here.
Summer Surgery Programme 2010
The OneWight Campaign
The Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg MP announced in June that the number of MPs is to be cut and the number of voters in constituencies will be equalised at around 76,000.
There have been exceptions given for two Scottish Island constituencies, but not presently for the Isle of Wight. The Island has over 110,000 voters, so if the standard rule is applied to the Island around 35,000 voters would be included in a mainland constituency. I think this is a crazy idea, so I am leading an all-Island campaign for the Island to remain united as a single constituency. I would support two MPs whose constituencies were wholly on the Island, but because the number of MPs is to reduce I do not believe we would get that.
OneWight is a cross-party campaign that I am glad to say has already gained support from Island Labour and Liberal Democrats and our first-class local press are also enthusiastically supporting it. I am particularly pleased that the campaign is also supported by many other organisations including many of our Parish Councils and the Chamber of Commerce.
If you would like to sign the petition which I will be presented to Parliament on 6th September or help in any other way then please click on the link below.
A Message from Andrew Turner, the Island's MP
Thank you for visiting my website. I hope you will find this site useful to help you find out about my role as the Island's MP.
It has been my privilege to serve Islanders as their Member of Parliament since the general election in 2001, I was elected again in May 2010.
The role of a Member of Parliament has changed a great deal in recent years. First and foremost I am the Island's representative at Westminster, scrutinising parliamentary bills, working to shape legislation to improve the lives of all my constituents and holding the government to account.
I also help individual residents with problems and in order to represent the Island effectively at Westminster I need to stay in touch with Islanders generally.
The Isle of Wight has more residents than any other UK constituency with almost 110,000 registered voters and 130,000 residents, so although I try to keep in touch with as many people as I can - it is clearly impossible to be in touch with everyone. However I am very active locally, offering help and advice wherever needed. If you feel that I can be of service to you, regardless of any political Party that you support, or you want to let me know your views, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Your Views Count!
I have just commissioned a new website dedicated for Islanders to complete surveys on a number of issues. I will be developing it further over the coming months.
Currently there is the opportunity to complete a survey about a number of national issues and one specifically for Islanders up to the age of 25.
You can reach the new website here.
My Saturday Programme
On most Saturdays I get out and about to a different part of the Island each week to knock on doors and hear the views of residents, finishing up at a local pub where anybody is welcome to come along to have a chat with me.
If you would like to come along and help me with my Saturday sessions for an hour or so please give my office a call on 530808.
Our Economic Position.
We are just emerging from the longest and deepest recession on record, but our recovery is among the slowest in the developed world. People have been hit hard on the mainland and of course here on the Island. Some people have lost their jobs and, in the current climate, many employers are wary of taking on new people.
Many Island residents are pensioners who rely on investments and savings to supplement their retirement incomes. The fall in interest rates has been very difficult for them to cope with. Even people who have not been directly affected have told me that they feel they are living in uncertain times.
The new coalition Government is working on policies that will help steer us out of recession and ensure that those in most need are protected from the worst effects of these difficult economic times. However the scale of the UK''s deficit is even larger than anticipated and there are going to be some very difficult decisions ahead. David Cameron has said that each one of us will feel an effect of the cut-backs in public spending. There will of course be hardships, but I don't believe that cutting the overall size of Government and trimming back its unnecessary intrusion into our daily lives is wholly a bad thing.
I will always stand up for the Island and Islanders to make sure that we get the very best deal possible in these difficult economic times.
With very best wishes,
Andrew Turner
This website is funded from the allowances available to Andrew Turner as the Island's Member of Parliament. If you have any ideas on how it could be improved please let us have your suggestions. Any complaints about content should be made initially to the Director of Finance and Administration at the House of Commons
