Who should dissatisfied Leave voters blame for the Brexit mess? The first of three posts on the European elections – please share
This is the first of three posts about the European elections on May 23rd, written in a purely personal capacity. They will be about: (1) Who should dissatisfied Leave voters blame? (2) Why Independent supporters should vote for a pro-European party. (3) Which party should you vote for? Is there a case for tactical voting?
WHO SHOULD DISSATISFIED LEAVE VOTERS BLAME?
Over half of East Devon voters supported Leave in 2016 (although 46 per cent did not). Now that Brexit has turned into a shambles, it’s no wonder that people who voted Leave are angry. You vote for something – the Government and MPs should make it happen, yes?
Yet Brexit was never going to be simple. As someone said recently, you’re unpicking 45 years of integration. You’re unpicking the foundations of our economy – millions of British jobs depend on Europe. You’re unpicking our society – making people from other countries who live in the UK feel insecure, so that many (including doctors and nurses) have left. You’re unpicking the Northern Ireland peace process – stirring up new violence in that country.
The first people who should be blamed are Brexit leaders like Boris Johnson who said it would be easy. It was never going to be easy. They lied when they said it would be. They knew about the economy. They knew about Ireland. But they ploughed on. Theresa May has made a huge mess of it, but Leavers like Johnson and Jacob Rees-Mogg set up this impossible situation in the first place.
Does Nigel Farage actually have any answers, rather than simple slogans?
Nigel Farage is now posing as the answer. But he was always egging on the Tories into more and more extreme positions. He helped create this mess. Now he has set up a new ‘Brexit Party’. One of its candidates in the South West thinks it’s all right to talk about raping women MPs.
If you’re thinking of voting for Farage, just ask yourself: Has he got an answer to how we get out of the Brexit mess? We know it’s complex – has he really explained how he will do it? Unless you honestly think that there is a thought-out solution there, not just the same kind of simple slogans that got us into this mess in the first place, steer clear of the Brexit Party.
Seaton Town Council has three vacancies to be filled by cooption – do you have something to offer to our community, and could fill one of them?
Only 9 of the 12 seats were filled in the elections. We nine are a good team and I’d say that the Council is more cohesive than at any time in recent years. A good moment for anyone to come on board – email me cllrmartinshaw@gmail.com if you’d like to talk about the possibility. Details of how to apply are here.
PS Council news – Ken Beer re-elected Mayor and Jack Rowland Deputy Mayor.
Seaton parents start campaign over school funding cuts – this could spread across Devon
On Tuesday I went to a meeting of parents and others in Seaton Jurassic about this. Real anger over the way the government is (a) underfunding the school system generally and (b) underfunding Devon schools compared to the national average. Reported that Neil Parish failed to turn up to a meeting with headteachers about this. An action group has been set up – contact Abi Jones 07476 913853.
East Devon Alliance tops polls in ALL Axe Valley wards as EDDC slips from Tory hands for the first time in its 45-year history. A truly historic moment! Many thanks to all who voted for change.
Left to right: happy East Devon Alliance Independents Dan Ledger (Seaton), Paul Hayward (Yarty), Sarah Jackson (Axminster), Paul Arnott (Coly Valley) and Jack Rowland (Seaton), who ALL topped the polls in their wards and were elected to EDDC for the first time, pictured at the count in Honiton this afternoon.
Together with EDA Independents in other wards, other Independents, Lib Dems and one Green, they have broken Tory rule in East Devon for the first time in its entire 45 year history. A colossal thanks to everyone who voted for us – we will work hard to change our district for the better.
SEATON result (elected) Dan Ledger (EDA) 1561, Jack Rowland (EDA) 1392, Marcus Hartnell (Con.) 1095, (not elected) Peter Burrows (Lib Dem) 515, Jacquie Russell (Con.) 504, Juliette Williams (Lib Dem) 300, Abi Jones (Lab.) 298, Terry Burrows (Lib Dem) 257.
COLY VALLEY: (elected) Paul Arnott (EDA) 938, Helen Parr (Con.) 851, (not elected) Andrew Pearsall (Con) 625, Carol Dawson (Lab) 382.
Tomorrow is local election day – vote for your local Independents
Polling stations are open 7 am to 10 pm.
(Promoted by Martin Shaw, Lynwood, Old Beer Rd, Seaton, on behalf of Dan Ledger, 13 Marsh Rd, Seaton, Jack Rowland, 18 Albion Close, Seaton, and Paul Arnott, Minton House, Church St, Colyton.)
Seaton Artisan Market this Saturday 4th May, 10-3, Thury Harcourt Place, FREE!
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NOTE THE EARLIER ANNOUNCEMENT GOT THE DATE WRONG – SATURDAY IS THE 4th!!
We’re breaking through into national media: East Devon is the ‘fun one’ in the local elections, where the ‘battle is largely between Conservatives and independents’, while ‘in the parliamentary seat Claire Wright, an independent, has a fighting chance of winning ahead of the Conservatives’.
The New Statesman’s Stephen Bush writes: ‘Ooh, there’s a lot going on here. The fun one is East Devon, where in the parliamentary seat Claire Wright, an independent, has a fighting chance of winning ahead of the Conservatives. The local battle is largely between Conservatives and independents, so keep an eye on that.’
Major wildlife photography exhibition @SeatonTramway – only until 10th May
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@CllrIanThomas, leader of East Devon District Council, has left the Conservative Party, which is falling apart locally as well as nationally. There is a historic opportunity next Thursday to end 45 years of one-party rule in East Devon.
Councillor Ian Thomas, Conservative leader of East Devon District Council, has announced that he has left the Conservative Party, citing ‘national issues’.
It is now clear that the Conservatives are falling apart locally as well as nationally. This shows that there is a historic opportunity to end 45 years of one-party rule in East Devon in next Thursday’s elections. Everyone should vote for Independent candidates who have the best chance of ousting the Tories in most cases.
There is real chance that East Devon Alliance and their fellow-Independents could have the chance to head an alternative administration in a week’s time. Over now to the voters – turn out on Thursday and give us the chance.
East Devon postal voting instructions don’t tell you what to put in which envelope – I explain it here
This is what you should do – but the instructions don’t say it, as they usually do:
- You should put the completed ballot paper in Envelope A, and seal it.
- Then put the completed Postal voting statement together with Envelope A into Envelope B, with the EDDC address showing in the window, seal and return.
Seaton & Colyton MATTERS 