The cost of living crisis and how they plan to tackle it was one of the questions asked to MP hopefuls standing in Isle of Wight East.

With Islanders heading to the polls imminently, the County Press asked the six candidates what they would do support residents.

They were given 120 words and here's what they said...

Emily Brothers, from Island Labour, said: "The Conservatives have trashed the economy, resulting in Islanders paying higher bills for food and energy, rising rent and mortgages. Labour will ensure economic stability by being fiscally responsible and stimulate growth.

"14 years of Conservative failure means rising poverty with 349,400 visits to Food Banks across Isle of Wight East in the year to April 2023. Some 57 per cent of constituents are worried about paying energy bills.

"Case management will be an important aspect of my work as MP if elected. This will involve advocating for local people and working with community groups to address needs.

"Labour will introduce a New Deal for Working Families, free breakfast clubs at every primary school and insulate homes".

David Groocock, independent candidate, said: "One of my aims in the long term, is making sure people can earn more money, by increasing the tax thresholds from the current 12% to 20%, and increasing the minimum wage, until food banks are no longer needed.

"Also, helping employers with better tax breaks and more incentives, to employ more people, cutting red tape on their business, looking at business rates by reforms. 

"We need to make sure those on benefits are getting the right package and making sure they have enough money to live and improve their lifestyle. 

"We can increase benefits by cutting down benefit fraud which amounts to millions of pounds. We do this by creating a special government department solely to deal with this."

Michael Lilley, for the Isle of Wight Liberal Democrats, said: "The Lib Dems would provide long-term help with the cost of living by cutting energy bills through an emergency Home Energy Upgrade Programme, tackling rising food prices through a National Food Strategy, and getting mortgage rates under control through careful economic management.

"On the Island through the cost of living crisis, I have advocated and gained funding for voluntary sector projects to support local resident needs including pushing for Ryde Town Council to fund an award winning youth and community development service that is tackling poverty in the town.

"I gained £100,000 to support 28 community-led projects such as IW Men Only, Veterans Hub, Ventnor Well-Being Café, Isle Access, Sensory CIC amongst others to enable more residents to gain support."

For the Isle of Wight Green Party, Vix Lowthion said: "The cost of living crisis has been going on for over a decade since the austerity cuts of the Conservative and Lib Dem coalition. But it’s much worse now.

"As a teacher I know families who cannot afford heating and eating or make the rent. 36% of Island children live in poverty. And many of these families are in work.

"As your MP, I would vote to raise the minimum wage to meet the increased costs of living, and to end the two-child benefit cap.

"This would take at least 250,000 children in the country out of poverty. Ask your Labour and Conservative candidates why they both support this unfair cap on support for the most vulnerable families."

Reform UK's Sarah Morris said: "Make work pay. Lift the income tax start point to £20,000 per year. This frees up to 7 million people from paying income tax and saves every worker almost £1,500 per year. Basic tax rate stays at 20%.

"Cut energy taxes, beat the cost of living crisis.

Save households over £500 per year. Lower fuel duty by 20p per litre for both residential and business users. Scrap VAT on energy bills. Scrap environmental levies.

"Cut residential stamp duty.

"Substantially boost economic activity and housebuilding by cutting Stamp Duty to 0% below £750k. Cut it to 2% from £750k - £1.5m and cut it to 4% over £1.5m."

Joe Robertson, for the Isle of Wight Conservative Party, said: "One of the biggest contributors to the cost-of-living crisis has been inflation, particularly inflation in energy prices made worse by war in Europe.

"Inflation is back down to 2%, but we cannot take it for granted and must continue to prioritise keeping inflation low. We also need better paid, permanent employment opportunities here on the Island.

"The next MP needs to be a powerful ambassador, attracting new business investment to the Island creating more permanent jobs.

"The next government also needs to be prepared to support people directly by maintaining an energy price cap, Household Support Fund and cost of living payments."

  • For Isle of Wight West: Cameron Palin, Green Party; Ian Pickering, Reform UK; Richard Quigley, Labour; Bob Seely, Conservative; Nick Stuart, Liberal Democrat; Rachel Thacker, ADF.

(Image: Canva)