The next elected representative for Lake North needs to provide committed local leadership.

Full statement

As your Labour candidate in this byelection, I bring data science expertise and consultancy experience to tackle our community's challenges head-on. Lake North faces numerous interconnected issues that reflect broader challenges confronting the island at the present time, exacerbated by years of tory austerity.

Our main community facility, the Lions Day and Community Centre, serves as polling station, meeting space, and event location, thus creating capacity constraints. I'll advocate for enhanced community spaces for our diverse community activities.

Limited local retail options force residents, particularly elderly and those without transport, to travel for essential services. I'll push for improved local service provision, and champion initiatives like the council’s £150,000 small business grants programme.

We need affordable housing for locals and incoming professionals who provide our vital services. This requires careful balancing against strain on existing infrastructure, parking enforcement concerns, and the preservation of the island's unique landscape. I'll champion targeted regeneration efforts that benefit both Lake and Sandown - particularly to combat urban decline and abandoned buildings in the latter – and support the Bay Area Place Plan, ensuring that our green spaces are optimised.

The successful campaign to save Brading Primary School demonstrates the power of local activism. As your candidate, I want to ensure that the Isle of Wight Education Strategy is achieved by 2030 in order to build a world-class education system for the Island – to improve life chances for the young – and to ensure that SEND provision continues to improve.

Labour’s Fair Funding Review 2.0 is addressing fundamental inequities in local authority funding allocation that have until now put the island at a disadvantage. The upcoming Hampshire and Solent Combined Authority partnership offers unprecedented opportunities for the island. I’ll fight for resources that directly help our residents - ensuring that Lake North receives maximum benefit from enhanced funding and strategic coordination with the mainland whilst preserving our Island identity.

I firmly believe that progress on these issues will directly improve the quality of life of Lake North residents. The upcoming by-election on Thursday 2nd October 2025 provides an opportunity for you to select representation that will advocate effectively for your interests. If elected I will provide the politically moderate, effective representation that Lake North deserves. Please do consider voting for me.

Christopher Lloyd
Labour Party Candidate