Customers hold pirate protest at ferry meeting

A group of Isle of Wight ferry users dressed up as pirates to protest about high fare prices and reliability of service for a government minister's visit.

Mike Kane MP came to Cowes to meet those involved in providing cross Solent ferry services, as well as politicians, business leaders and representatives from tourism.

Ferry passengers dressed up in striped t-shirts and pirate hats, alongside a wooden boat, to demonstrate the strength of feeling among islanders.

A spokesperson for ferry firm Wightlink said the meeting had involved "a good exchange of views and some positive next steps to take forward".

Posting on X after the meeting, Mr Kane said: "I hope all parties can now deliver for local people, ensuring access to reliable, affordable journeys."

East Wight Conservative MP Joe Robertson, who attended the meeting, said the minister was "helpful", but he "won't pretend everything was solved in one meeting".

"There's still a lot of convincing to do to make the government understand that we are in a unique position in that we have lifeline transport providers that are privatised, unregulated, unsubsidised, and with lots of debt" he added.

Bronwyn Hamilton-Brown, from the Wightlink User Group said: "People are leaving the island because they can't afford to live here.

"They are separated from their families - they can't afford to visit them and their relatives can't afford to come here, they're marooned."

Others who joined the demonstration held plaques reading "Pirates of The Solent" and "Fair Ferries or Ye'll Face Mutiny."

Mark Reen runs a B&B in Cowes and said the island was being strangled.

"It's affecting businesses, people can go to Majorca for a week cheaper than the ferry for a short break here," he said.

West Wight Labour MP Richard Quigley said he would keep fighting "to make sure we get the best deal for islanders to try and get across that stretch of water."

A Wightlink spokesperson said: "Everyone at Wightlink cares about the needs and concerns of our Island customers and we are committed to working in partnership with all roundtable participants to support and grow the Island's economy by bringing more visitors across the Solent."

The protests came as two morning sailings between Portsmouth and Fishbourne were cancelled when Wightlink's St Clare ferry was taken out of service for repairs earlier.

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