Islands Forum (United Kingdom)

The Islands Forum is a body in the United Kingdom that brings together local government leaders from island communities with ministers from the UK Government, the Scottish Government, the Welsh Government, and the Northern Ireland Executive. It met for the first time in September 2022.^[1][2]

Islands Forum

Formation	September 2022; 2 years ago (2022-09)
Purpose	Forum for leaders of local governments of island communities in the United Kingdom
Region served	United Kingdom

Background

The Island Forum was proposed In 2022, as part of the Levelling Up White Paper to allow local policymakers and residents of island communities to work together on common issues, such as broadband connectivity, and provide a platform for them to communicate directly with the UK central government on the challenges island communities face in terms of the levelling up agenda.^[3][4]

Members

The following governments, local authorities and organisations are members of the Islands Forum:^[5][6]

United Kingdom

• UK Government

England

• Isle of Wight Council
• Council of the Isles of Scilly

Scotland

• Scottish Government
• Argyll and Bute Council
• Highland Council
• North Ayrshire Council
• Orkney Islands Council
• Shetland Islands Council
• Western Isles Council

Wales

• Welsh Government
• Isle of Anglesey County Council

Northern Ireland

• Northern Ireland Executive
• Rathlin Development and Community Association

Meetings

The forum meets twice each year:

Meetings of the Islands Forum
Date	Location	Chair
September 2022	Orkney Islands[1][7]	Nadhim Zahawi
May 2023	Isle of Wight[8][9]	Michael Gove
10 October 2023	Western Isles[10]	Michael Gove
7-8 May 2024	Anglesey[5][11][12]	Michael Gove
Autumn 2024	Argyll and Bute[5]	TBA

See also

• Intergovernmental relations in the United Kingdom
• Local Government Leaders' Council