A correspondent has quite correctly pointed out that Owl has not shone the spotlight on Neil Parish and his views on NHS hospital bed closures on his patch in East Devon.

Owl is so used to Neil Parish saying nothing at all – except about dualling the A303 or, at a push, farming – that he does drop off the radar. Apologies.

Parish does indeed need to let us know his views as he has seen all in-patient beds go at Axminster hospital and now he is seeing them all go at Honiton and maybe at Seaton. A dire situation for East Devon – though leavened for him in that the hospital at Tiverton (also in his constituency but in Mid-Devon council area) will definitely stay.

However, a word of caution on his views – like Swire’s they can bend with the wind. During the referendum he called himself a Remainer but after it he first threw his weight behind Boris Johnson for Leader and then, when he withdrew, he backed Angela Leadsom – both fervent Leavers.

But, as with Swire, these are totally safe Conservative seats so he can say what he likes.

Or can he?