I see that Mr Swire has been publicly critical of those of us who have expressed concerns about devolution.
Devolution is essentially the transfer of some government responsibilities to local councils.
I am not opposed to the principle of devolution, however, Chancellor, George Osborne has strong-armed councils into taking on these extra responsibilities, which gives me a cause for considerable scepticism.
A group of councils in Devon and Somerset, as well as the NHS and businesses are currently negotiating a deal to be put to ministers for devolved powers.
As Devon County Council prepares to shave off nearly £40m again, from its budgets in a few weeks, thanks to austerity measures, it will be even less well equipped than before to provide vital services.
But now Local Enterprise Partnerships (run by largely by business people) must take a leading role in preparing a bid to government for devolved powers. Ministers have insisted that bids must be business focused.
At the Devon County Council meeting in December, councillors voted in favour of my motion to allow public consultation on the bid. Although, from Mr Swire’s recent opinion, one might be forgiven for thinking that this was a Conservative proposal!
East Devon District Council Independents (especially the East Devon Alliance councillors) have been very proactive in raising concerns about plans, which up until now have been extraordinarily vague and tricky to get to grips with.
From what I have seen however, the bids will be very big business focused. And politically conservative, with a huge emphasis on the importance of Hinkley Point for example … while renewable energy, which has been a thriving industry in the south west – or at least it will be until the 64 per cent subsidy cut hits in a few weeks, doesn’t appear to get a look in.
Mr Swire might not like Independents expressing opposing views to government policy (has he ever voted against the party line?) but I tend to take the view that councillors (and MPs) are here to represent constituents, not to protect corporate interests or nod in sage agreement with every ministerial announcement.
I have raised many important issues in many of my columns in this newspaper and invited Mr Swire’s to respond.
He appears to favour silence, however.
Here’s the article – http://www.exeterexpressandecho.co.uk/Comment-renewable-energy-sidelined-devolution/story-28436976-detail/story.html
http://www.claire-wright.org/index.php/post/why_is_mr_swire_angry_over_devolution_criticisms
East Devon Watch 
The objective of this , and any Tory government, is to abrogate responsibility for spending money (apart from those areas in which it proposes to retain that option for its own benefit)
It will then have somebody else to blame when everything either goes tits up, or when it chooses to absolve itself of responsibility in any contentious situation!
The Tory government will then never be in the wrong, or in a situation where it can be openly criticised.
As for Swire, I refer you to my earlier contributions, the man is inhaling oxygen better spent on keeping others alive! Happy New Year..
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