A Message from the Island's MP

Welcome to my website.

Ferry campaign
As you may know following a long campaign the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) decided to carry out a market survey on the cross-Solent ferry services.  On Friday June 12th they announced their provisional findings.  It is a 93 page report but the headline point is that they 'are minded' not to make a referral to the Competition Commission for a full investigation.  However the report  is far from a clean bill of health for the Island's two main ferry companies, the OFT beliee it is 'to early to tell' whether the very high prices the ferry companies most recently changed hands for will have a knock-on effect on prices and services.

You can download the OFT's report from their web site.

As you can imagine I am somewhat disappointed at this news but I am certainly not giving up.  The OFT have accepted most of the arguments I made but say that although there are clearly problems there is not enough evidence of 'consumer detriment' for them to act and there is no easy remedy to resolve the problems.  I will be seeking a meeting with the OFT in order to find out what sort of evidence they would need in order to change their minds.  You can see my full press release about this issue by clicking on the link on the left under recent press releases.

Find out more about the Campaign
View list of supporters

MPs Expenses

The Daily Telegraph recently published an article which has clearly led some people to believe that I purchased alcohol with public money.  I should like to make it clear that other than tea and biscuits for my office I have not claimed for food (or alcohol) from the allowances.  

The story in the Telegraph also incorrectly quoted a figure of £579 for Occupational Health services.  The correct amount was £75.

You can read the full text of their letter, their questions and my answers (in red) in this document. (PDF file)

There is currently an independent review into the expenses for Members of Parliament.  David Cameron has also ruled that all claims over the past four years by all Conservative MPs will be examined by a scrutiny panel and they will make recommendations about any repayments that are necessary.  Obviously I hope they will find my own judgements were sound but I will of course abide by any decisions they make about my own claims.

I have issued a statement with my views and giving further details of my own expenses. You can read it here (PDF file).

Other matters
At the forefront of all our minds at the moment are the effects of the credit crunch and the continuing recession.  People are being hit hard on the mainland and of course here on the Island.  Many 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.  Some people have lost their jobs, and in the current climate many employers are wary of taking on new people.  Even those who have not been directly affected have told me that they feel they are living in uncertain times.

I have been worried for a very long time about the levels of personal debt that have been building up - a product of the 'have today - pay tomorrow' society and now we know that under this Government that the country has also built up record levels of debt.   Home repossessions have rocketed and small businesses are facing very difficult times.   These problems may have started in the banking and financial sectors, but the fallout will be felt by all of us in the coming years.

The answers to these problems are not easy, I am certainly not pretending they are.  The real challenge in this credit crunch is to get credit flowing again.  That is why Conservatives proposed a £50 billion National Loan Guarantee Scheme to get lending going and protect jobs.  We will also reduce taxes on savings to help the victims of the recession.  

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