Claim: Among the factors which could have led to the Conservatives (officially the Conservative and Unionist Party) losing seats in the Isle of Wight council are the recent education reforms on the Isle of Wight, which led to protests over the closure of island primary schools.
Evidence: Elections held in June 2005 led to significant change as the Conservatives took over from the Liberal Democrats as the largest group, winning seats primarily from the Lib Dems and Independents who had previously worked together. In the 2009 elections the Conservatives managed to retain their majority by securing 24 of the revised 40 seats; however this was the only Conservative council in the UK that lost seats. In 2013, the Island Independents gained 20 seats, one short of a majority, with the Conservatives only winning 15. As of January 2015, the Island Independents have lost four councillors through defections, and the Conservatives one. Following the resignations of the leader and deputy leader in January 2017, Conservative members assumed control of the administration, with Cllr Dave Stewart appointed as leader. A new ruling executive was formed, made up of five Conservatives, one UKIP member and three non-aligned members. Conservative Island Independents Independent Liberal Democrats Labour Independent Green Independent Labour 25 8 2 2 1 1 1 The Conservative Party, officially the Conservative and Unionist Party, and also known colloquially as the Tories or simply the Conservatives, is a political party in the United Kingdom. Elections in the constituency have traditionally been a battle between the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats. Andrew Turner of the Conservative Party gained the seat from Peter Brand of the Lib Dems at the 2001 general election. At the Isle of Wight Council election of 2013, the Conservatives lost the majority which they had held since 2005 to the Island Independents, with Island Independent councillors holding 16 of the 40 seats, and a further five councillors sitting as independents outside the group. The Conservatives regained control, winning 25 seats, at the 2017 local election. Independent 1973-1977 Conservative 1977-1981 Liberal 1981-1985 Alliance 1985-1989 Liberal Democrats 1989-1995 Liberal Democrats 1995-1998 No overall control 1998-2005 Conservative 2005-2013 No overall control 2013–2017 Conservative 2017-present Education reforms on the Isle of Wight is part of a process to change the Isle of Wight's education from a three-tier system to a two-tier system. A final decision was made in May, announcing which schools would be closed. However, as all included the closure of large numbers of island schools, they produced a negative reaction with many local islanders, resulting in protests occurring in the main towns of Newport, Ryde, Shanklin and Sandown. The move was opposed by a lobby known as based in Upper Ventnor and the Conservatives, who, after they won the local council elections in May 2005 shelved the proposals pending further investigation. On 14 January 2008, the Council announced that at least 23 primary schools and one middle school (expected to be Nodehill Middle School) would be closed, whichever education pathway was chosen in March. The 'biggest protest the Island has ever seen' occurred outside County Hall in Newport on 26 January 2008 at 10:00am lasting an hour until 11:00am, led by Isle of Wight Radio DJ Alex Dyke as a result of the Council's plans for education reforms. Three primary schools will close completely, with 15 others no longer operating on their current sites.