Councillor Diviani in politically motivated rush to sell the Knowle ahead of local elections

Very recently the esteemed Leader of East Devon District Council, Councillor Paul Diviani, gave, as an excuse why the much delayed but important Local Plan couldn’t be published this side of the May local elections the reason “...there is concern that the process (presenting the Plan to Councillors ahead of elections) could be seen as politically motivated...”

In parallel the District Council leadership has been ploughing ahead with the incredibly unpopular plan to sell off its Headquarters at the Knowle, Sidmouth, and relocate it on a split site basis at Honiton and Exmouth. At the last District Council meeting Independent councillors argued that any decision to accept the plan to move the Headquarters should be taken after the elections. Councillor Diviani and his majority Conservative group rejected that argument.

We now learn that in their quest to ensure that the relocation decision is made ahead of the elections three council meetings will be held in March. These meetings include the Council’s Cabinet which meets on 11 March to consider a final proposal which will then be put to a special full Council meeting on 25 March.

This raises the real question as to why presenting the long awaited Local Plan ahead of the local election could be seen, according to the Council Leader as “politically motivated”, whereas making a decision on selling off the Knowle couldn’t be seen as “politically motivated”! It seems to Zorro that Councillor “Kim Jung Un” Diviani and his majority Conservative group want their cake and eat it, or to put it more straightforwardly making sure that the sale is agreed ahead of the elections means that a new administration cannot undo the decision. That is a "politically motivated" decision if there ever was one!

This has clearly got to be the Conservative group’s tactic, otherwise why else would the Leader set a special Council meeting to get the sale approved? This can be seen as particularly “politically motivated” when one realises that once we get to 31 March the Council has to go into purdah. In other words the Council cannot take any new significant decisions after 31 March.

So to get around this inconvenience Councillor Diviani makes sure that the decision is pushed through just ahead of the cut off date of 31 March.

Zorro makes no apology for keeping comparing the way that Councillor Diviani and his majority Conservative group run the District Council to the way that Kim Jung Un runs North Korea – as a one party state.

If you ever needed a reason why the Conservative District Councillors ought to be removed, or culled, at the forthcoming elections Zorro cannot think of a better one!  Bring on the Independent’s challenge at the ballot box on 7 May. The arrogant politicisation of the District Council as exemplified by Councillor “Kim” Diviani and his Conservative majority group has to be brought to a halt.

To understand more about how Independent candidates will be challenging the Conservatives in the election go to East Devon Alliance’s website - http://www.eastdevonalliance.org.uk/. Also check out two of our Independent Councillors blog sites – Claire Wright http://www.claire-wright.org/ and Susie Bond https://susiebond.wordpress.com/

Don’t just get mad, get even! You can get even in two ways. Firstly, by lobbying the full Council meeting on the evening of 25 March when the Conservative District Council majority will be trying to railroad through the sale of the Knowle. Secondly, by voting for Independent candidates in the District Council elections on 7 May.

The Sidmouth Herald edition of 27 February carries the story of the impending special Council meeting on 25 March -

http://sites.google.com/site/realzorro1/27.2.15SidmouthHeraldArticle1.pdf.

It’s time for change! It’s time for challenge!

A unified challenge can unseat Hugo Swire

The contest for the position of the East Devon Constituency MP has so far been the most exciting one that there has been locally for a long time. There are a number of reasons for this and they are all related to how the incumbent MP and the majority Conservative group on East Devon District Council treat the electors and fellow Councillors.

The Constituency’s MP Hugo Swire appears to pay very little attention to local matters, preferring instead to concentrate on his Ministerial activities. It is rare to hear about Hugo intervening or commenting on local matters, something that a good proactive local MP ought to do. Is Hugo distracted by all of his Ministerial trips abroad?

Our District Council, as everyone knows, has an overwhelming Conservative majority. As everyone will also know the District Council has, particularly over the past 4 years or so, been beset with an apparent indifference by the Conservative majority group to the concerns and wishes of the electorate; those they were elected to serve. More and more the word “arrogance” is used when electors describe the Conservative Councillors attitude to them.

Electors who are unhappy with how the District Council has acted on key local issues such as the failure to publish an effective Local Plan or the outrageous shenanigans over moving the District Council’s Headquarters (the Knowle) office have found collective ways to express their dissatisfaction. We have seen some 4,000 residents marching in protest to the Knowle and we have seen the creation of a number of local pressure groups including, to name but a few,  East Devon Alliance (EDA) http://www.eastdevonalliance.org.uk/, East Devon Watch  http://eastdevonwatch.org/ and Save Our Sidmouth http://saveoursidmouth.com/.

The main challenge to the Conservative majority group on the District Council has come from the group of Independent Councillors, although it is the smallest grouping (7 Councillors). Allied to the Independent Councillors group is the Liberal Democrat’s grouping (9 Councillors). To put these two groupings into perspective, the majority Conservative group on the District Council comprises of 42 Councillors. An overwhelming, but not an unassailable, majority.

Over recent years a head of steam has been created amongst electors who want to see change in those who represent them, not only on the District Council, but also in Parliament; the East Devon Conservatives. This has led to a number of exciting local political reactions.

Independents opposed to the Conservative domination and ruination of the District Council have come together in a new local party created for this purpose – East Devon Alliance (EDA). This move is an attempt to create a unified opposition at the ballot box for the District Council elections.

Claire Wright http://www.claire-wright.org/, a respected hard working Independent Councillor sits on both Devon County Council and East Devon District Council. Claire is one of the Councillors on the District Council who work hard to mitigate the worst excesses of the majority Conservative group on it. Claire is standing as an Independent candidate for the East Devon Constituency in the general election.

Zorro has considered the position of all the general election political parties/candidates within East Devon as we are now less than 10 weeks away from the elections on 7 May and makes these observations –

Conservatives – incumbent Hugo Swire is suffering the backlash of the appalling continuing stewardship of East Devon District Council under his Conservative colleagues. He is also is seen to be a semi detached MP who takes little interest in local matters. The assumption would usually be that East Devon would be a safe Conservative seat. However, against all of this Hugo’s odds at Ladbrokes have consistently shortened over recent months. This makes his hold on the seat more risky by the day. A solid challenge to Hugo could provide a major electoral upset. Ladbrokes currently give Hugo’s odds on winning the seat at 1/8. This is not exactly a ringing endorsement!

UKIP – their candidate Andrew Chapman and the Party generally have no public presence in the Constituency. According to the outcome of last year’s European elections, and the more general national opinion polls, UKIP should be giving Hugo Swire a real run for his money. Unfortunately they aren’t, because if they were you would expect Hugo to lose votes to UKIP. You would hardly know that UKIP were standing in East Devon, and it has no presence on the District Council. Ladbrokes currently give UKIP’s odds on winning the seat at 12/1, which seems incredibly generous.

Liberal Democrats – their candidate Stuart Mole has no profile across East Devon. The Party, despite having 9 Councillors on the District Council, has no profile either. It is rare to see anything in the local press or media from them. Nationally, the Liberal Democrats look as if they will face very significant losses at the polls on 7 May. Many people in areas such as East Devon could have previously voted for them as a realistic alternative to voting Conservative. Tactical voting by those who would want to support the Greens or Labour would have previously locally bolstered their votes. The Liberal Democrat candidate would take votes from Claire Wright. Despite everything Ladbrokes currently give the Liberal Democrats odds on winning the seat at 50/1.

Labour – Labour doesn’t really exist politically within East Devon. The Party has only just again announced that it is fielding a candidate, Steve Race, who is a lobbyist in London and a previous political adviser. Steve Race has been selected after the party’s previous candidate, Jessica Pearce, recently stood down. Was this to let Steve Race step in? The Labour Party cannot in its wildest dreams think that this is a seat where it can win, come second or even keep its deposit. Steve Race, given his background, must see East Devon as a stepping stone to being picked for a more winnable seat in the future. The Labour candidate would take votes from Claire Wright. Even against this backdrop Ladbrokes currently give Labour odds on winning the seat at 100/1.

Greens – the Green Party has no profile in the Constituency and in January they voted 2:1 not to field a candidate, but more recently they are thinking about whether to change their mind. To put up a candidate with only a few weeks to go until the election would be a vanity decision as the Party has no chance of winning. A Green candidate would take votes from Claire Wright. Even against this backdrop Ladbrokes current give the Greens odds on winning the seat at 100/1.

Independent – East Devon has a good track record in supporting Independent candidates on the District Council. It is disquiet with the Conservative District Council representatives that has created the overarching EDA which will support and field Independent candidates across the District Council. Claire Wright has a proven record of standing up to the Conservatives on the District and County Council where she is a Councillor on both. Claire Wright is standing as a truly Independent candidate. She has been campaigning since last summer. She has produced a manifesto which has been produced arising out of consultation with electors.

Claire Wright is a recognisable name within East Devon and her support for local issues and residents has gained her valuable support and respect across the Constituency, and across its political divides. Claire has driven a high profile election campaign, the success of which is reflected in the fact that when she launch her candidature last year Ladbrokes quoted her odds on winning at a lengthy 66/1. Claire’s campaign is buoyed by the broader local support for Independents given the anger that electors have with the local Conservatives. Claire’s campaign is being covered by not only local and regional press and media, but also the national ones. Such is the interest and expectation that she could realistically win the seat.

But to win Claire Wright needs to garner every vote that she can. She doesn’t need those parties who stand no earthly chance of winning the seat from bleeding her votes. Ladbrokes currently give the Claire Wright’s odds on winning the seat at 6/1. This reflects the anticipation that many have of her overturning Hugo Swire’s majority. Claire’s odds are also the best odds that Ladbrokes quote for a general election candidate standing as an Independent anywhere in the country!

It is very clear to Zorro that there is a real chance that in East Devon a very significant outcome could happen at the general election. A safe Conservative seat with an incumbent MP could be lost. But it can only be lost to one person. That is Independent Claire Wright. To do this Claire Wright needs those parties which occupy the centre and centre left of politics to see the bigger picture! To see the bigger opportunity! To see the bigger goal!

In conclusion, Zorro puts this challenge out to the Liberal Democrats, the Labour Party and the Green Party – withdraw your candidates from standing in the general election. We have a great local candidate in Claire Wright who has a profile and a level of support that you and your candidates don’t have, and can’t realistically reach before 7 May. It is time for brave political decisions to be taken on behalf of the electors in East Devon.

Let’s make sure that the full collective force of those who want to change our local political landscape is not dissipated. Put your support behind Claire Wright. Let’s bring change to East Devon! Don’t let Hugo Swire get back in because the opposition splits its vote four ways.

It’s time for change! It’s time for challenge!

Hugo Swire writes a letter!

It must be getting near the general election! How do we know? Hugo Swire has popped up? Where’s this you ask? He’s in today’s edition of the Express & Echo newspaper. He wrote a letter to it.

I can now hear you asking, when did Hugo Swire last write to a local newspaper? The answer is... Zorro can’t recall when he last did that.

Ah, you are asking what was the local matter that Hugo felt so enthused or interested to write about. Was it the Local Plan? Was it the relocation of the EDDC Headquarters from the Knowle? The answer to both was, no don’t be silly! It was to hit out at anyone who might be challenging him, or the Conservatives, in the election.

Hugo Swire’s letter is carried under the headline “Beware of voting for chaos politics”. Hugo goes on to hit out at Labour, the Liberal Democrats, the SNP, the Greens and Independents (i.e. Claire Wright http://www.claire-wright.org/).

So, our MP has woken up. He has realised that the game is afoot locally. And so Hugo has hit out at all his political opponents by claiming that he and his party are the only ones who can save this country and our economy.

Come off it Hugo, who are you kidding! East Devon doesn’t like what you and your East Devon Conservative Councilors have done. The game is up!

To read Hugo Swire’s letter to the Express & Echo - http://www.exeterexpressandecho.co.uk/letter-Hugo-Swire-Beware-voting-chaos-politics/story-26086041-detail/story.html#ixzz3Ss5E3tMu

It’s time for change! It’s time for challenge!

Development resistance threatens election upset in Devon

A recently published interesting and insightful article (reproduced below in full) by Martin Shaw a research professor of international relations at the Institut Barcelona d'Estudis Internacionals and the University of Sussex, captures the essence of what is happening politically in East Devon. Basically, the arrogance of the ruling Conservative group on East Devon District Council is about to politically hurt them and the incumbent errant MP Hugo Swire. It makes the argument for why there is a huge challenge locally to the Conservatives by Independent candidates in both the general and District Council elections.

Development resistance threatens election upset in Devon

Martin Shaw 23 February 2015

In one seat in the South West, the bookies list the main challenger is an independent. What's going on?

It is the unlikeliest place to look for evidence of Europe's new political turbulence. Forecasters agree that in South West England, the main issue in the May 7 General Election is between the two Coalition parties. Will the Liberal Democrats manage to cling on to their seats or will David Cameron's Tories take them, offsetting Labour gains elsewhere in England and Wales - which combined with the SNP's capture of Labour seats in Scotland will allow Cameron to remain in Downing Street?

Certainly, the insurgent soft-racist party, UKIP, will advance a little here, but it is nowhere near to capturing seats as it may elsewhere. Likewise the 'Green surge' may conceivably work in regional capital Bristol, but there is no sign that rural constituencies will see strong Green advances. With the Lib Dems the fall guys of the UK's first coalition since the Second World War, sitting Tory MPs must be feeling complacent about their own returns to Westminster, even if the national outcome remains on a knife-edge.

This will undoubtedly have been the case in the East Devon constituency, where the academic site electionforecast.co.uk projects national trends to give the Conservatives 40 per cent, Labour 16, the LibDems and UKIP 15 each and the Greens 7. However the site willingly acknowledges that local constituency-level knowledge is not included in its model, and Lord Ashcroft's programme of constituency polling has also not reached here.

It is therefore understandable that national media have so far overlooked a very English local insurgency which has produced a serious independent candidate, Claire Wright http://www.claire-wright.org/, who aims to oust Tory foreign office minister, Hugo Swire.

Independent MPs are rarely elected in UK general elections, but the rare exceptions are often in safe Tory seats where (as here) both Labour and the Lib Dems are weak. In recent times, Martin Bell (a BBC reporter) toppled 'sleazy' Tory Neil Hamilton (now a leading UKIP figure) in Tatton in 1997, although when Bell stood down in 2001, the seat reverted to the Tories' George Osborne. Consultant Richard Taylor captured Wyre Forest in 2001 on the back of a strong campaign to save Kidderminster’s hospital, holding it until 2010.

Could East Devon be 2015's case? Wright is not a celebrity capitalising on a national scandal, as Bell was, nor does she have a single decision like Kidderminster's hospital closure to rally opposition to local Tory dominance (although local hospital closures are important issues, and Wright is part of a campaign against cuts in the Ottery St. Mary hospital).. It might therefore be thought that her chances are slim. Yet she is building on very broad opposition to the ruling Tories on East Devon District Council (EDDC), widely perceived as a one-party state where developers rule - if not a hotbed of corruption (Tory Graham Brown was forced to resign in 2013 in a ‘councillors for hire’ scandal).

Wright has a broad local base. A youthful district and County councillor, she came to prominence in a mass movement which brought 4,000 people onto the streets of the district capital and seaside resort of Sidmouth (population 14,000) in 2012, in protest against a development on open green space proposed by the EDDC. Already there was a scent of wider anger with a one-party regime on the council (the Tories have ruled for 35 of the last 39 Years). ‘Without the ventilation of change, the council has, some feel, begun to smell’, wrote the editor of Country Life at the time.

Unlike most such protests which quickly fade, Save Our Sidmouth spawned a movement, the East Devon Alliance (EDA), which is now challenging for power on the council. EDA is aiming to contest at least 45 of the 58 council seats and end Tory rule. The election takes place on the same day as the general election and the Lib Dems have no chance of gaining control, while Labour and the Greens will be lucky to gain any seats at all.

Syriza or Podemos, EDA is not. Yet this local movement of mainly middle-aged, middle-class southern English is one of many local resistances to the Tory-led Coalition's National Planning Policy Framework, widely seen as a property developers' charter, who are nationally united in the Community Voice on Planning (COVOP).

Like the London tenants fighting the sale of their estates to developers, EDA contests the increasing bias of the British state towards property developers, local and international. The difference between EDA and other anti-developer resistance is that EDA, including several sitting independent councillors, is now challenging for district power. With implicit backing from the local press, EDA threatens a major upset in this quiet backwater.

Without EDA's challenge to the local council, Wright's independent campaign might seem quixotic. Yet simultaneous local and national elections, with synergies between the campaigns, give her a chance. Bookies now have her ahead of the Lib Dems and Labour, and a respectable second place is clearly possible. Wright's challenge is to persuade Lib Dem, Labour and Green voters who will vote EDA in the local elections to also support her - while at the same time trying to eat away at the Tory vote.

In what has been called Britain's most unpredictable election - as I write, election forecast projects a mere one-seat Labour plurality over the Tories (283-282 in a parliament where 326 seats are needed for a majority) - clearly every seat counts. Experts expect wide variations between constituency outcomes, and East Devon is another to watch. They would also do well to take on board the significance of the local elections: in East Devon on May 8, the most likely change is an end to decades of Tory council rule.

This article was taken from the Open Democracy forum https://www.opendemocracy.net/about

 

It’s time for change! It’s time for challenge!

So many ways to help Claire Wright get elected

Are you wanting to see Claire Wright http://www.claire-wright.org/ elected as East Devon’s next and Independent MP? If you are, then there a number of ways that you can make that become a reality –

Show your support for Claire – Claire Wright has produced an A3 size election posters (twice as big as the normal paper size that most of us print out from our computers on to) that you can place in your home window or in the back of your car window. Claire also has copies of this A3 size poster available in laminated plastic making it ideal for posing outdoors.

Grab some attention  for Claire – Claire Wright has some A1 correx panels which are attached to wooden stakes. These are ideal for placing in your garden, particularly if you live somewhere where others will pass by on foot, cycle, car or bus. The panels looks like –

 

Deliver Claire’s leaflets – Claire Wright is always in need of volunteers to help deliver her election leaflets across the East Devon Constituency. You don’t just have to sick to volunteering to deliver in your own locality! There will be a need to get Claire’s message out to every household right up to polling day on 7 May.

If you can help Claire Wright’s campaign in any of the ways identified above, or in any other way, however small, then you can contact her at claire@claire-wright.org.

Vote for Claire Wright – don’t forget to pop out on polling day and cast your vote for Claire Wright. Take the time to persuade your family and friends that it’s also in their interests to vote for Claire.

Support Claire’s public meetings & hustings – take the time to pop along to a local meeting and hear about Claire’s election manifesto. These are at –

Saturday 28 February: 10am – Newcourt Community Centre, 11am - Clyst Heath outside Primary School, 12 noon - Exeter outside St Peters School.

Tuesday 3 March: 7pm – Matthews Hall, Fore St, Topsham.

Tuesday 10 March: 7pm – Unitarian Church, junction of All Saints Road and High Street, Sidmouth.

Friday 13 March: HUSTINGS: East Devon Federation of Small Businesses - Kennaway House, Sidmouth (invite only).

Saturday 14 March: morning street meetings - Broadclyst and Cranbrook.

Wednesday 18 March: 7pm – Masonic Hall, Budleigh Salterton. 

Saturday 21 March: morning street meetings - West Hill and Tipton St John.

Friday 27 March: 7pm – The Institute, Yonder St, Ottery St Mary.

Wednesday 1 April: 8pm – St Francis Church Hall, Woolbrook.

Saturday 11 April:  morning street meetings - Sidmouth and Newton Poppleford.

Thursday 16 April: 7pm – Exmouth Rugby Club, Imperial Road, Exmouth.

Friday 17 April: HUSTINGS: Christians Together, Exmouth (time tbc).

Tuesday 28 April: 7pm – HUSTINGS: All Saints Church Hall, Sidmouth.

Make a financial contribution – if you want to contribute towards Claire Wright’s election campaign fund it is very easy to do so. Just open this link and have your bank card details to hand. It only takes a minute or two to do https://www.paypal.com/uk/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_flow&SESSION=baovl_PM9Rl4qrMBc38QI3kpABD7I1PH9MMd8N11TfeKplZs_Zc0WRtL6RC&dispatch=5885d80a13c0db1f8e263663d3faee8da8649a435e198e44a05ba053bc68d12e.

 

It’s time for change! It’s time for challenge!

Claire Wright responds to public meeting questions

In the 1960’s Harold Macmillan said that politics was about “events, dear boy, events”. More recently Claire Wright http://www.claire-wright.org/ having launched her election manifesto and embarked upon a series of public meetings to explain why should be East Devon’s next and Independent MP,  unfortunately fell ill and couldn’t attend her first public meeting recently in Sidmouth. So, for Claire “events” have intervened all too quickly unfortunately!

But ever resourceful and dedicated to keeping the faith with those who turned up to the meeting Claire Wright’s election team asked the audience for any questions that they had for Claire. These questions have now been responded to by Claire Wright in a short video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iMel2JNW9U.



Claire Wright - East Devon's next & Independent MP

If you have yet to meet Claire or to hear her speak this is a good opportunity to do so. As is getting down to the Unitarian Church in Sidmouth on the evening (7.00pm) on Tuesday 10 March when she has rescheduled holding her recent ill-fated meeting.

 

It’s time for change! It’s time for challenge!

Political motivation keeps EDDCLocal Plan hidden

It has become increasingly depressing to read about the continuing failure by East Devon District Council, under the appalling “leadership” of Councillor Paul Diviani, to deliver not just a realistic District Local Plan, but frankly any Local Plan!

 Zorro recalls that the District Council presented its Local Plan to a government inspector a year ago only to be told to go away and try and do it again because it had “serious failings” in it. Why did it have “serious failings”? The answer is because the District Council had not properly considered the number of new homes required in the region.

The new homes projections for the region were being drawn up in conjunction with several other local authorities including Exeter, Mid Devon and Teignbridge.

So, where are we at now with our Local Plan? According to Paul “Kim Jong Un” Diviani the District Council had envisaged being able to take the revised plan before councillors in March or early April. However.............Councillor Diviani says that cannot happen. And the reason why it can’t happen then is because of the forthcoming elections!

And what difference do the elections in May (NB: Zorro is convinced the date has been known about for a little while!) make to the ability for the Councillors to see the Local Plan? According to “Kim” “...there is concern that the process (presenting the Plan to Councillors ahead of elections) could be seen as politically motivated, which would overshadow the soundness of the Plan”.

Is this the same Plan that relies upon data about the number of new homes that are required in the region? Is this the data that was being drawn up with other local authorities? Was one of these authorities Mid Devon? Is this the same Mid Devon authority that has just published its own Local Plan? See East Devon Watch’s posting - http://eastdevonwatch.org/page/2/.

North Korea aka East Devon District Council

Mid Devon District Council

“Could be seen as politically motivated”? Come off it Councillor Diviani! If Mid Devon can produce its Local Plan ahead of May’s elections so can East Devon!  

What Councillor Diviani really means is that the Local Plan will upset too many local electors and so a “politically motivated” decision has been taken not to release it this side of the elections so that voters won’t punish East Devon Conservatives and incumbent MP Hugo Swire so hard at the polls. I suspect that this rouse won’t help any of you!

Councillor Diviani, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un would be proud of you! Your electors probably won't be!

Kim Jong Un

Councillor Paul Diviani

Save Our Sidmouth carries severe criticism of the District Council’s delay by planning revered consultant Charlie Hopkins http://saveoursidmouth.com/.

It’s time for change! It’s time for challenge!

Another busy week for Claire Wright on the election trail

It’s been another busy week on the election trail for Independent candidate Claire Wright http://www.claire-wright.org/.

Claire held her successful second public meeting in Exmouth where the audience engaged in a question and answer session with Claire.

Claire Wright addressing Exmouth audience

Clr Roger Giles supporting Claire Wright

As an Independent candidate Claire Wright cannot rely upon the financial support of a political party to help to fund her campaign and so she was very pleased that some of those in the audience felt that they wanted her to win in the election that she received some very generous financial donations towards her significant campaign costs.

If you want to contribute towards Claire Wright’s election campaign fund it is very easy to do so. Just open this link and have your bank card details to hand. It only takes a minute or two to do https://www.paypal.com/uk/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_flow&SESSION=baovl_PM9Rl4qrMBc38QI3kpABD7I1PH9MMd8N11TfeKplZs_Zc0WRtL6RC&dispatch=5885d80a13c0db1f8e263663d3faee8da8649a435e198e44a05ba053bc68d12e.

Also this week Claire Wright was out with some of her election campaign team knocking on doors in Sidmouth. She was also being filmed by Joe Tidy from Sky News for a piece that he is doing on Independent candidates.

Claire Wright with Clr Roger Giles & Sky News

Sky News capturing Claire Wright's engagement with a Sidmouth elector

It is not surprising that Claire’s campaign has gained interest from the media beyond the local area given her strong track record in challenging not only our errant incumbent MP Hugo Swire but also the continuous shenanigans that the majority Conservative group on East Devon District Council undertakes.

 

Sky News interested in Claire Wright's views

 

It’s time for change! It’s time for challenge!