Martin Bell, who was on the Isle of Wight to launch the election campaign for independent candidates. Picture by Peter Boam.
FORMER BBC war correspondent and independent MP, Martin Bell, was on the Isle of Wight yesterday (Monday) to launch the campaign for independent candidates ahead of this year’s council elections.
The journalist, who spent four years as an independent MP and now acts as a UNICEF ambassador, gave a presentation followed by a question and answer session at the Riverside Centre last night (Monday).
Dozens of people attended the session, which came at the end of a day spent touring the Island when he saw a number of community initiatives, including the Waterside Pool in Ryde, the Ventnor Town Council-run paddling pool and the Frank James Hospital site in East Cowes.
"The climate of politics is such that people will respond to honesty. It’s a quite a good time for independents.
"If you don’t want things to happen, do nothing.
"Politicians at local level are judged on their record. If they support local schemes in the community, people are more likely to vote for them," he told last night’s audience.
Reporter: jonm@iwcpmail.co.uk