Richard Foord calls for Parliament to have a say on any military action
Not everyone is aware, perhaps, that not only is Richard Foord a very effective constituency MP – his office has just completed its 10,000th constituency case since he was elected 22 months ago – but he also plays an important role as the Liberal Democrats’ Defence spokesperson. He was influential to getting the party to push for a Gaza ceasefire – before Labour came round to it – and now, following recent use of British forces to support Israel against Iran, he has stood up for the principle that Parliament should have a say on any British military action. You can watch here.
Tories have rigged the voting system to try to keep their Police & Crime Commissioner
As postal votes arrive for the Police & Crime Commissioner elections, it’s important to understand that the Conservatives have changed the voting system to try and stave off defeat for their candidates. In previous elections, you could also express a second preference, and in both 2016 and 2021, the Labour candidates came close to defeating the Tories, after many Lib Dem voters gave their second choices to Labour. This year, the government has changed the system to first-past-the-post – no second preference.
The present Tory commissioner, Alison Hernandez – never seen in East Devon except for election photo-opportunities – is hoping to squeak back in thanks to opposition votes being split between Labour and the Lib Dems. Since Labour has proven to be stronger in these elections in the past, I’ll be voting for them. Horses for courses – in the General Election, of course, I’ll be supporting our Lib Dem MP, Richard Foord.
Website cheat was Simon Jupp’s campaign manager
The domain “richardfoord.uk” was bought by Oliver Kerr, who works part-time as Mr Jupp’s campaign manager, and is paid by taxpayers to also work for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority. Works for the Standards Authority.You couldn’t make it up! – Owl “The Office of Mr Jupp has acted deceitfully, and without integrity. This behaviour has…
— Read on eastdevonwatch.org/2024/04/19/simon-jupp-admits-campaign-staffer-set-up-websites-in-lib-dem-rivals-name/
Simon Jupp’s belated response to the false websites raises more questions than its answers
Conservative candidate Simon Jupp (pictured below with Liz Truss) has finally told the BBC that he was “not responsible for the web domains” which took people searching for Richard Foord, our Liberal Democrat MP, to his own website. Jupp’s failure to apologise or even express concern suggests that he was happy with this underhand behaviour – at least until it was found out – and has no intention of finding the culprits – presumably because they are members of his own team. As BBC reporter Miles Davis says on Twitter, it “feels like there is a long way to go to get to the bottom of this story”. Let’s hope that Spotlight, the Midweek Herald and other media keep up the pressure.
Local Green candidate follows Labour lead – campaign for the party in Bristol, not here
A de facto cross-party coalition is building up around Richard Foord, our Liberal Democrat MP, to be re-elected for the new Honiton & Sidmouth constituency, which includes Seaton. Last month the Labour candidate, Jake Bonetta, urged local members to go to Plymouth to campaign in the General Election, rather than campaigning here (although Labour will still be fighting for council seats and the police/crime commissioner).
Now Henry Gent, the Green candidate, has said on Twitter that Honiton/Sidmouth members should go to Bristol to help win the Greens a second MP. Labour, Greens, and Independents like me – we all agree it’s essential to keep the Tories and Simon Jupp out, and get Richard Foord back in. It’s the best way for us to be involved in the big change that the election will bring.
Could Tories cling on here despite slumping support?
There have now been four national opinion polls this year which have attempted to project constituency results. All have estimated that Tory support in Honiton & Sidmouth constituency is drastically reduced – to just 36 per cent in the latest YouGov poll, compared to over 60 per cent for Neil Parish in 2019. Yet all also estimate that the Tories will still win on such a miserable level of support, because the opposition vote will be divided between Lib Dems, Labour and Greens.
It’s our job to prove them wrong, by rallying around Richard Foord and sending our first ever non-Tory MP back to Parliament. The decision by Labour to prioritise other constituencies in the General Election is a step in the right direction.
‘Under no circumstances can we let the Tories win here’, says Labour candidate, in big boost to Richard Foord’s Lib Dem campaign
Readers will remember that Labour decided some time back not to fight for our new Honiton & Sidmouth constituency in the General Election. Because of this, Labour will be only be standing a ‘paper’ candidate, who has now been selected by the national party (because the party is not seriously contesting the seat, local members did not make the choice). Labour has announced that the candidate is Jake Bonetta (above), a former councillor, and in a big boost to Richard Foord’s Lib Dem campaign, he has written to all local Labour members to tell them that ‘Under no circumstances can we let the Tories win the seat, bringing them one MP closer to forming the next Government.’
Jake says that (rather than campaigning here) Labour members should join the campaign to win a seat in Plymouth: ‘our top priority must always be on our nearest “battleground seat”, Plymouth Moor View … we will be travelling [there] at least once a fortnight during the long campaign. .., it’s a great opportunity to continue supporting our Party in the seat that matters most, nearest to us. For those of you who can’t make canvassing in Plymouth Moor View, there will be plenty of opportunities to get involved in their campaign from home.’
Jake’s message is very responsible and should be welcomed by everyone who wants Richard Foord to be returned. Labour activists helped Richard win in the 2022 by-election, as he acknowledged, and could play a significant part in helping ensure that he, rather than the Tory carpetbagger, wins in the General Election.
Bunts Lane felling is due to ash dieback; replanting will follow
John Wilding of Clinton Devon Estates has written to a local resident: ‘I confirm that the recent felling at Bunts Lane is ash dieback related.
The plan details the areas where we have had to fell diseased ash close to Bunts Lane and Couchill. Most of the work was undertaken two years ago, and has been replanted.
Bunts lane had a stay of execution as the dieback was slower to progress here; we took some badly infected trees out of the New Beer Road / Bunts lane junctions three years ago, which helped, however the disease situation change last year and the time to intervein, before the trees became lethal to both road users and the felling team who undertake the work arrived this winter.
I appreciate it is a change but can assure you the site will quickly heal as full light reinvigorates the ground flora, at least for a few years before trees once again close in. As the area becomes a thicket a whole range of different wildlife will benefit compared to the ash and sycamore pole stage stand that has been worked.
We do plan to replant but it is unlikely to be this spring as I am unable to source plants this late in the season – we have been seriously delayed due to the need for and delay in getting the road closure. Replanting will now be undertaken next winter when a mixture of cherry, sycamore and oak. The sycamore and oak are unlikely to grow to maturity, due to the ravages of Grey squirrel and long term the woodland is likely to become a cherry wood, fortunately cherry is largely left alone by Grey squirrel!
Thank you for your interest and I understand your reaction to this change. I have no doubt that local wildlife will seize the opportunity and the increased diversity will quickly be a net gain for Bunts lane.’
Richard Foord pursues Hospital funding issue in Commons question
The Seaton Hospital Steering Committee, elected at the public meeting in November, is aiming to apply to the Community Ownership Fund to support our bid to utilise the vacant wing of the Hospital. Richard Foord MP has asked a helpful question in the Commons:
Richard Foord (Tiverton and Honiton) (LD)
On the community ownership fund, it is welcome that the match funding requirements for local organisations have been reduced to 20%. In future rounds, could the criterion around match funding take account of prior investment by the community, such as the very many small donations that people in the Axe valley area gave to build Seaton community hospital?
Michael Gove
That is an interesting idea. I am very fond of the Axe valley, so I will look at it.
Seaton & Colyton MATTERS 