Zorro was intrigued to see the full list of the candidates standing in
this general election for the East Devon seat. It was a racing certainty that
incumbent MP Hugo Swire (The Conservative Party) would throw his hat into the
ring as after all the eat is his and his Party’s to lose, and therefore given
his age, why would he voluntarily give this role up unless he had something
more interesting and/or lucrative for he and Mrs Swire to do?
It became fairly clear from the moment that the Prime Minister stepped up
to the lectern outside Number 10 on 18 April to call a snap general election
that local high profile Independent, and a candidate in the 2015 general
election, Claire Wright claire@claire-wright.org,
was taking soundings from friends and
political supporters as to whether she should stand again. Loyal readers will recall
that in the last general election Claire Wright http://www.claire-wright.org/ came
a very credible second polling a quarter of the votes. This was a truly credible
performance, particularly for a candidate who had no political party machine or
funding behind her.
And so Zorro and Mrs Zorro were unsurprised to see confirmation yesterday
that Claire Wright’s name would be on the ballot paper alongside Hugo Swire.
At that point what was most intriguing was whether the Green Party, the
Liberal Democrats and/or the Labour Party would accept and recognise that
standing their own candidates would be foolhardy vanity politics as all they
would be able to do, apart from raising their party’s profile in the
Constituency, would be to take votes from Claire Wright, thus making Hugo Swire’s
task easier. Through Zorro’s Twitter postings a challenge had been put to all
three of these parties to stand aside to allow Claire Wright a clear run at
Hugo.
It was with disappointment but in truth little surprise to formally find
out yesterday that both the Liberal Democrats and the Labour Party were
fielding candidates. So much for any idea of a coalition of progressives, or a
progressive alliance! To their credit the Green Party isn’t putting up a
candidate.
The Labour Candidate, Janet Ross, polled badly in the recent Devon
County Council elections failing to get elected in the Broadclyst Electoral
Division. Although looking on the bright side she polled 5 more votes than he
co-Labour Party candidate. So, she must have something, doesn’t she?
We have Alison Eden standing for the Liberal Democrats. Alison was
elected for her party last September to Teignbridge Council. So, like Hugo Swire,
she doesn’t live in East Devon. At least all of the other candidates do!
Oh what about UKIP I hear readers asking? This time around the dear old
Kippers, who really do appear to be down on their luck, which must bring a
smile to Hugo Swire’s face as their votes are most likely to come from his, are
fielding Brigitte Graham. Brigitte stood
in the recent Devon County Council elections for UKIP in the Exmouth Electoral
Division.
In the County Council election Brigitte explained what
she stood for – “I am married to Gavin Graham and I live in
East Budleigh. I have run my own business, since 1985, so I understand the
pressures on small enterprise. I care passionately about East Devon, and
despair at the wonton destruction of our green spaces. Pot holes in the roads
are dangerous and are a result of neglect; I would bring pressure to repair our
infra-structure. Local housing for local people is vitally important to help
people born in the area stay here. We need to ensure that so called affordable
homes are genuinely affordable for our local people.
UKIP does not ask me to 'toe the party line' unlike
the other parties. I will truly represent our local people. Despite what you
might read in the Press, the grass roots membership of our Party continues to
grow, with hundreds of councillors across the country representing local
people. I am looking forward to the challenge! If you want to see democracy in
action, please vote for me on 4th May”.
Unfortunately for Brigitte the electors in the Exmouth seats didn’t buy
into her vision! And Zorro suspects that the electors across the whole of East
Devon won’t either on 8 June! So, say goodbye to another £500 plus of UKIP’s millionaire
backer’s money!
What was most surprising to Zorro when pursuing the list of candidates was
the fact that in addition to Claire Wright there are two other independent
candidates – Michael Val Davies and Peter Faithfull?
Peter Faithfull’s name was already known to Zorro as he is an East
Devon County Councillor for Ottery St Mary. The thing that bemuses and concerns
Zorro is the fact that Peter took his EDDC seat as an East Devon Alliance candidate!
The EDA is the local home of independents!
Zorro hears that Peter Faithfull isn’t standing with the EDA’s
blessing. Zorro leaves it to readers to decide upon Peter Faithfull’s motives
in standing. He may find that politics is a pretty unforgiving vocation and
that in 2020 his support in the District Council elections could tumble if
voters decide that his actions in this election undermine those who have a
better chance of taking the seat from the Conservatives.
The equally bizarre entrant into this race to represent the East Devon
electorate is one Michael Val Davies. Who’s he Mrs Zorro asked.
Michael seems to hail from Exmouth, writes the odd letter on war
heritage to the Guardian and stood as an independent candidate in the Barnsley
Central 2011by-election. Even the Zorro children know that Barnsley is a bit up
north from East Devon. Michael lost his £500 deposit in that election, as he is
bound to do again in this one, and managed to poll a magnificent total of 60 votes
or 0.2% of the votes cast! Well played Michael!
Perhaps it was no surprise
that this was the case as the BBC's Political Editor for Yorkshire and the
North Midlands, Len Tingle, tweeted at the time “Finally caught up with 9th
candidate for #BarnsleyCentral. Independent Mike Val Davies forgot to issue an
address or phone number- bless”.
Readers may
like to read the mini manifesto that the local BBC obtained from Michael in
that election – “I would first of all use the humiliation I would
have imposed on the entire London political class to press for more time for
Barnsley to adjust to lower public spending. The fact is that if entrepreneurs
have the ideas to create new jobs Barnsley people can fill them. The hotel I am
staying at is a shining example of that.
One
thing that has to be fixed though is the state of the roads I will demand that
the first call on the £40bn motorists pay in taxes is road repairs. In a
broader sense I am standing here because the party loyalties that have been
with us for as long as we can remember are dying and I would like to help
administer the last rites. If I came near the top in the ballot for private
members legislation I would introduce a bill to control the companies who
advertise loans at 4000%”
To complete Michael’s humiliation in that election in Barnsley he told the Barnsley Chronicle newspaper that he had 'no
chance of winning' the by-election! How prophetic he was! He came a sad and
lonely last! And people ask whether history repeats itself. We will find out on
9 June!
Zorro is genuinely intrigued
that both Peter Faithfull and Michael Val Davies each have the £500 required to
enter this race and which they must know in their heart of hearts they will
lose. Equally, Zorro is amazed that if these two are to provide the electors
with any idea of who they are and what they are standing for then they will
have to produce some written publicity and run some sort of a campaign. To run
an effective campaign costs a lot of money which is why Independent candidate
Claire Wright is trying to raise £10,000 to support her campaign https://www.crowdpac.co.uk/campaigns/2644/claire-wright.
Neither appears to be on Twitter, so bang goes
free social media communication. Mind you, the Labour Party and UKIP candidates
don’t seem to have Twitter accounts either, and the Liberal Democrat appears to
run a protected Twitter account, so that makes a social media conversation with
all of them difficult!
Indeed, Zorro will be intrigued to see who has proposed and seconded
the nomination forms for both Peter Faithfull and Michael Val Davies, and who
has added their names to the other eight electors are who signed, as is
required to allow a candidate’s name to reach the ballot paper!
So, what do we know having now seen the list of candidates standing in
East Devon? In Zorro’s opinion it will be a two horse race, as it was last time
around. The big question will be whether the supporters of both the Labour
Party and the Liberal Democrats have the desire to unite behind Claire Wright rather
than playing fantasy politics by voting for their partties’ tribal candidates.
This is the only way to give Claire Wright a real chance at creating the political
upset that East Devon needs.