Isle of Wight East MP, Joe Robertson, has introduced a proposed new law in the House of Commons today (Wednesday 5 November), to try and improve ferry services. Following Prime Minister’s Questions, Mr Robertson tabled the Ferry Services (Integration and Regulation) Bill under the “10 minute rule motion” to regulate ferry services not only on cross-Solent routes, but throughout the UK.
Unlike with trains and buses, there are no nation-wide controls over how ferry services are operated, including pricing, timetables and performance. This means communities like the Isle of Wight are entirely reliant on unregulated private transport operators for essential transport links. The proposed new law seeks to improve connectivity, reduce prices and bring ferry services in line with wider UK public transport provision.
The Bill has received cross-Party backing from MPs from five different political parties in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland including Richard Quigley, MP for Isle of Wight West.
Mr Robertson is also trying to amend the Government’s English Devolution Bill so that any new Mayor for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight would be able to exercise regulatory powers over cross-Solent ferry operators.
Giving a passionate 10-minute speech, without notes, Mr Robertson drew attention to the different environment in which private train providers operate, with obligations imposed upon them regarding pricing, timetabling and publication of performance data. He said similar rules should apply to ferries:
“Those who provide public transport do so with certain conditions imposed upon them.
Train operators, whether they be state-owned or private companies, must provide services for a fair price that the Government has a say over. They must provide timetabling that allows people to move about, regardless of whether that individual train journey is profitable on its own; and there is law that ensures that those operators must publish performance data. There are similar rules that apply to bus service providers too, but there is no national provision that applies to those who operate ferry services, ferry services that communities all over the country, be they island communities, be they communities that live along riverways, rely on for accessing essential services and for employment and for seeing friends and family, and all the things we do in our daily lives.”
Additionally, the East Wight MP took the unusual step of addressing the ferry owners directly, saying:
“If I had the owners of Wightlink and Red Funnel in front of me now, this is what I would say to them: “We are tired of your methods, we are tired of your rip-off prices and we are tired of funding your huge, ballooning, bank debt interest. You have not done us a favour and you are not doing us a favour. You should be providing a lifeline transport service, which the taxpayer gave you money for to stay profitable during Covid.” ”
He went on to say the ferry companies should embrace regulation like other public transport providers if they care about the passengers they serve.
Mr Robertson met recently with Maritime Minister, Keir Mather MP, and welcomed the commitment to regular meetings with Richard Quigley MP and the Minister. He warned, however, that warm words and good intent need to be translated into tangible action.
The Ferry Services (Integration and Regulation) Bill will now join a ballot of backbench bills for possible debate on 28th November 2025. The Government has not taken a formal position on it.
