Joe Robertson

MP for Isle of Wight East

Conservatives

Joe Robertson is the Conservative MP for Isle of Wight East, having first been elected to parliament at the 2024 general election.

In the 2024 general election, Robertson won 10,427 votes, representing 30.6% of the vote. The Reform UK candidate, Sarah Morris, received 7,104 votes (20.8%), while the Green Party candidate, Vix Lowthion, secured 6,313 votes (18.5%). Robertson was duly elected with a majority of 3,323.

The Isle of Wight East constituency covers the eastern half of the Isle of Wight in South East England. It was newly created ahead of the 2024 general election following the division of the former single Isle of Wight constituency. The former island-wide seat had been held by the Conservatives since 2001.

Robertson is one of 26 new Conservative MPs that entered parliament at the 2024 general election.

Political Career

Robertson currently serves as shadow parliamentary under secretary of state for work and pensions and an opposition whip. Robertson was appointed to these roles as part of the August/September 2026 shadow ministerial reshuffle, Kemi Badenoch’s second as Conservative leader.

Robertson served as a parliamentary private secretary (PPS) to the shadow culture, media and sport and transport teams on the Conservative frontbench from November 2024 to September 2026.

Additionally, Robertson is a member of the House of Commons health and social care select committee (since October 2024). The health and social care committee is a select committee of the House of Commons responsible for scrutinising the work of the Department of Health and Social Care and its associated public bodies.

In a March 2025 Politics.co.uk article, Robertson called for dementia to be “recognised as a national priority, with dedicated resources and a clear plan for delivery.”

Robertson is listed as a member of the all-party parliamentary groups (APPGs) for dementia, kinship care, modernising employment and pharmacy.

Robertson delivered his maiden speech on 8 October 2024.

In it, he said: “However long I have on these green benches, I hope to make my own significant contribution, particularly to the most pressing issue of our day: dealing with the pressures in health and, particularly, social care.

“The biggest reform the NHS needs is to deal with the pressure in social care, to relieve pressure on our hospitals. This government have said some good things about what they would like to achieve, and I urge them to act quickly.”

He added: “I also hope to contribute to the debate on integrated UK transport. The secretary of state for transport has spoken much of buses and rail and improving passenger experience. But we are a collection of islands, and she has said nothing of ferry services.”

Before entering parliament, Robertson was elected as a Conservative councillor on Isle of Wight Council in 2021. He was the Conservative group leader (2021-2023) and stood down from the council in 2026.

Political views

Brexit and Europe

Customs union vote (2025): In December 2025, Robertson voted against the UK-EU Customs Union (Duty to Negotiate) Bill. The bill, introduced under the 10-minute rule procedure by Liberal Democrat Europe spokesperson Al Pinkerton, sought to mandate the government to enter into negotiations with the European Union to establish a bespoke customs union.

Assisted dying

Robertson voted against the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, better known as the assisted dying bill, at both second reading (November 2024) and third reading (June 2025).

Social values and conscience issues

Abortion decriminalisation (2025): Robertson voted against a backbench amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill that sought to decriminalise abortion in England and Wales in June 2025. The amendment, which was passed by a majority of 242 votes, removed women from the threat of prosecution for ending a pregnancy at any stage. As an issue of conscience, MPs were allowed to vote according to their personal beliefs.