Dr Stephen Hopwood is a spokesman for the Freedom Alliance.

Owl is posting extracts of a recent blog on Dr H just to give a flavour of where he is coming from – go online for the full Monty. 

Quack Totnes Cancer Conference Ends in Farce – The Quackometer Blog

www.quackometer.net 

“Earlier this month, I wrote about how Dr Stephen Hopwood was opening a new alternative cancer clinic in Totnes, Devon, that was to “offer real alternatives to the conventional approach to cancer health care”.

To celebrate the opening, Hopwood was holding a cancer conference, inviting people with cancer to come along, and inviting a range of cancer cure peddlers to temp attendees with their magic beans.

What followed was quite extraordinary.

Local Devon MP, Dr Sarah Wollaston, after re tweeting my blog post, got in contact with the local Trading Standards. She was not the first to do so; prior to my post, others had also expressed their concerns.

Trading Standards have recently come under academic attack for failing to act on breaches of various consumer protection laws around health claims. A study placed 39 complaints to various Trading Standards. None resulted in prosecution; many complaints were simply ignored.

But the involvement of a local MP no doubt prompted TS into action and the BBC reported that they had initiated an investigation into claims that the clinic and conference were in breach of the Cancer Act of 1939. Hopwood accused the MP for being a “shop front” for the pharmaceutical industry. Classy.

A local Trading Standards Officer told Hopwood,

In view of the above I would advise you to remove the above references regarding the treatment, either by direct means or otherwise, of cancer from your website, and other documents associated with your business. I would also recommend that you remove any other references made regarding the treatment of cancer not specified above. Failure to do so could render your business liable for prosecution under the above legislation. I would request that these references are removed within the next 7 days.

Unexpectedly, local radio station Totnes FM waded in to report the story. Given that Totnes is a hotbed of New Age thinking and the radio station airs programmes such as “The Psychedelic Shed” and “Totnes Tales” with their in house medium, I was surprised at their no nonsense approach to the story. They kept people up to date with the latest developments and even invited Dr Hopwood on for an hour where he was given the grilling of his life……”

See also: No action over Totnes ‘baking soda’ cancer doctor

Voters across Devon in the county council elections will be able to vote for a new political party that wants to “end the lockdowns, protect medical freedom of choice and protect human rights and liberties.”

Daniel Clark, local democracy reporter www.radioexe.co.uk

The new Freedom Alliance is fielding candidates for 20 of the 60 seats in Devon, from Seaton to Hartland and from Combe Martin to Salcombe.

The Freedom Alliance, officially recognised earlier this year, say they are committed to the principles of personal freedom.

Dr Stephen Hopwood is a party spokesman and a doctor who has worked in Totnes as a holistic practitioner for 25 years, and said: “These are unprecedented times and we aim to show that we are indeed a viable force to be reckoned with. More and more people are intelligently analysing what is true and what is not and beginning to see through the false narrative. We have decided to stand to support these people in this understanding and to directly oppose this unacceptable rollout in our community.

“We’re offering electors the chance to vote for a genuine opposition to the measures which have been imposed by the government – measures that we do not believe were even remotely justified by the scale of the threat in the first place.

“Our economy has been ruined and our individual freedoms massively curtailed. Our fundamental human rights are in real danger of being lost and we believe we must act now to protect our community and humanity.”

The Freedom Alliance believes that freedom of speech and the freedom of people to gather are fundamental human rights. They say everyone should be free to make their own medical choices, such as whether to have a vaccine, get a test or wear a mask.

“We reject the kind of restrictions that have been imposed on us in the last year under the guise of a pandemic which is just not justified by a proper rigorous scientific study of the data,” said Dr Hopwood.

“We have seen the threat of covid exaggerated and large numbers of deaths caused by the lockdown itself – a huge cost in human misery, with people unable to get treatment or not being diagnosed for other illnesses. The toll on mental health and on society as a whole has been completely appalling, punitive and very damaging.

“Old people have been imprisoned in care homes. Children have seen their education blighted and been coerced into virus testing regimes and mask-wearing which is all hugely psychologically damaging. Businesses and livelihoods have been unnecessarily destroyed.”

The Freedom Alliance is calling for an end to lockdown and believes testing or vaccination should be voluntary. The party rejects compulsory mask-wearing and says vaccine passports are unnecessary and discriminatory.

Elections take place on Thursday 6 May, with voters electing councillors to serve on Devon County Council for the next four years. The entirety of the 60-strong council is up for election, with 56 ‘single-member’ electoral divisions and two ‘two-member’ divisions’.

The current composition is 41 Conservatives, seven Labour, six Liberal Democrats, three Independents, one Green Party, one East Devon Alliance and one North Devon Liberal.

The Conservatives and Labour are the only parties who are fielding 60 candidates, with the Liberal Democrats fielding 55. The Green Party is fielding 45 candidates, with one from UKIP, five from Reform UK, and 20 from the Freedom Alliance.

The East Devon Alliance have three candidates, the Trade Unionist and Social Coalition have six, while there are 28 Independent candidates.

Coronavirus infection rates in North Devon have hit the milestone figure of zero – with no cases in a seven day period.

Daniel Clark www.devonlive.com

In the seven days between April 3 and 9, there was not a single positive case from the 9,942 tests – from lateral flow and PCR – that were carried out.

It means that the district becomes the first in England since the second wave began to record an infection rate of 0.

Three positive cases though have subsequently been recorded – one from April 10, 11 and 12 – but as the infection rates cover a seven day period five days in arrears, it means that for one day, North Devon’s infection rate is 0.

Coronavirus cluster map showing North Devon and it\’s 0 infection rate for the period from April 3-9

Across the rest of Devon, in the same seven day period, Torridge (2 cases), West Devon (3), East Devon (8), and South Hams (6) also recorded cases that were in single figures, while infection rates in Exeter and Teignbridge were also below the 10/100,000 mark, with Mid Devon (18.2/100,000) the highest of Devon’s districts.

At an upper tier level, Devon as a whole has the second lowest infection rate in England, with 7.2/100,000, with only East Sussex having a lower rate.

The sale of collapsed regional airline Flybe has been completed – meaning the company is set to fly again with the chance of services resuming in the summer.

George Thorpe www.devonlive.com

In March last year, the airline which had a hub based at Exeter Airport and also operated flights from Cornwall Airport Newquay went into administration with all flights grounded as a result.

Disruption to the aviation and travel industry brought on by the coronavirus pandemic were partly blamed for the firm’s collapse.

However, in a statement released today, the joint administrators who were brought in following Flybe’s demise have confirmed that the assets of the airline have been sold off to a new company affiliated with investment adviser Cyrus Capital.

Along with this, the administrators confirmed that a new company previously known as Thyme Opco Limited will now be renamed “Flybe Limited”.

The completion of the agreement – which was first signed on October 19 – includes the transfer of Flybe jobs as well as assets and other parts of the business.

Speaking about the sale, Flybe Limited said that it is hoping to launch planes into the skies again this summer.

A Flybe Limited spokesperson added: “We are extremely excited to announce the conclusion of almost six months of dedicated hard work by the great team at Flybe, the UK Civil Aviation Authority, the European Commission, and the many others who made this announcement possible.

“Today’s news represents a critical first step in our mission to accomplish the first-ever rescue of an insolvent British airline.

“Subject to further success with vaccinations and relaxation of travel restrictions, we plan to launch a new and much improved Flybe sometime this summer on many of our former routes where there remains a critical need for a strong, reliable, and customer-focused airline.

“While our company will initially be smaller than before, we intend to grow, create valuable jobs, and make significant contributions to essential regional connectivity in the UK and EU.”

Simon Edel, joint administrator and EY-Parthenon Turnaround and Restructuring Strategy Partner said: “Completion of the sale of Flybe is positive news for local communities previously served by Flybe.

“The launch of a new Flybe will enhance regional connectivity across the UK and create new job opportunities within the airline industry.

“Flybe stands to make an important contribution to local economies as they rebuild after the pandemic and as restrictions ease to allow an increase in air travel.”

Owl’s view is that we need a “changing of the guard” in County Hall. It’s a pity that the minority parties have not reached local agreements not to compete with one another where one party is well placed to win. For example, the Lib Dems and the Greens reached such an agreement in Exeter City but this has not been extended at County Council level. Did “central office” veto any local deals?

Owl understands that the East Devon Alliance (EDA) was prepared to work with their coalition partners. For their part the EDA is only fielding candidates in divisions in which they won or came a close second last time.

Owl generally supports independent candidates in local elections, where they are genuinely independent. But once bitten twice shy.

In East Devon, over the years, we have had two particularly outstanding independent councillors: Roger Giles and Claire Wright. Many who admired them formed the East Devon Alliance (EDA) as a vehicle to provide more “quality assured” independent candidates. Crucially EDA candidates have all signed up to a set of core principles based on the Nolan principles – see their web site.

Unfortunately, the Indy brand has been devalued by Ben Ingham. In 2019 he pulled  together an ad hoc group of “independent” candidates and campaigned as an independent in the District Council elections. Voters, looking for a change, took the opportunity presented to reduce the Tories to a minority party and Ben Ingham anointed himself leader of a coalition.

Tellingly, he refused to allow any EDA independents to join his cabinet or committees and effectively formed a coalition with the Tories. We have learned the hard way that his “independents” spanned the range of genuine Independents, quasi-Independents, and “really-not-very-independent-at-all-but-I probably-wouldn’t have-got-in-if-I-still-called-myself-Tory” independents.

Owl can spot examples of each of these in the County candidate lists.

In contrast an EDA indy is quality assured.

As for the others it is worth looking to see if they are District Councillors and, if so, what their voting record is. (A good test is how they voted in the GESP debate).

A few other observations from Owl.

Owl has previously reported that Ben Ingam, having rejoined the Conservative party, failed to be nominated as the Tory candidate for the Exmouth and Budleigh Coastal Division. Given his ambition, Owl assumed he would pop up somewhere else, but he has failed to do so.

There are quite a few “Freedom Alliance” candidates mainly elsewhere in the County but one is standing in Seaton and Colyton. Readers, like Owl, may wonder what a “Freedom Alliance” party stands for. Beware, this was formed in response to what it sees as unnecessary “governmental restrictions and curtailments on free people” during the COVID-19 pandemic. So this might pose a “UKIP” type of threat to the right wing Tory vote, making some of their seats more vulnerable.

Devon County Council local elections candidate list announced

Daniel Clark www.devonlive.com

The full list of candidates who are standing for election to Devon County Council has been announced.

Elections will take place for all 60 seats on Devon County Council on Thursday, May 6, with voters going to the polls to elect their representatives for the next four years.

The entirety of the 60-strong council will be up for re-election, with 56 ‘single-member’ Electoral Divisions and 2 ‘two-member’ Divisions’.

The current composition of the council consists of 41 Conservatives, 7 Labour, 6 Liberal Democrats, 3 Independents, 1 Green Party, 1 East Devon Alliance and 1 North Devon Liberal.

All elected councillors will serve their usual four year term upon their election.

More than a quarter of the council will change, with 17 current councillors not standing for re-election, including the current chairman of the council Stuart Barker and cabinet member Barry Parsons, as well as the former leader of the council Brian Greenslade.

The Conservatives and Labour are the only parties who are fielding the maximum of 60 candidates, with the Liberal Democrats fielding 55.

The Green Party are fielding 45 candidates, with one from UKIP, five from Reform UK, and 20 from the Freedom Alliance, who are standing on a platform of ‘no lockdowns, no curfews’.

The East Devon Alliance have three candidates, the Trade Unionist and Social Coalition have six, while there are 28 Independent candidates.

Below is the list of candidates who are standing, with the * denoting where they are the sitting councillor who is up for re-election.

DEVON COUNTY COUNCIL

EAST DEVON

Axminster

Ian Hall (Conservatives) *

Paul Hayward (East Devon Alliance)

Jules Hoyles (Liberal Democrats)

Oliver Tucker (Labour)

Broadclyst (2 councillors to be elected)

Ellis Davies (Labour)

Peter Faithfull (Independent)

Henry Gent (Green Party)

Tom Hobson (Conservatives)

Mathieu Holladay (Labour)

Jamie Kemp (Liberal Democrats)

Sara Randall Johnson (Conservatives) *

Exmouth (2 councillors to be elected)

Tim Dumper (Liberal Democrats)

Josie Parkhouse (Labour)

Michael Rosser (Green Party)

Richard Scott (Conservatives) *

Jeff Trail (Conservatives) *

Joe Whibley (Independent)

Daniel Wilson (Labour)

Exmouth and Budleigh Salterton Coastal

Brian Bailey (Independent)

Christine Channon (Conservatives) *

Keith Edwards (Labour)

Brigitte Graham (UKIP)

David Hayward (Reform UK)

David Ireson (Green Party)

Penny Lewis (Liberal Democrats)

Feniton and Honiton

Jake Bonetta (Labour)

Cathy Connor (Liberal Democrats)

Phil Twiss (Conservatives) *

Otter Valley

Jess Bailey (Independent)

Steve Bloomfield (Labour)

Luke Gray (Green Party)

Charlie Hobson (Conservatives)

Jake Slee (Liberal Democrats)

Seaton and Colyton

Paul Blackmore (Freedom Alliance)

Marcus Hartnell (Conservatives)

Angela Marynicz (The Democratic Network)

Martin Shaw (East Devon Alliance) *

George Tomkins (Labour)

Martyn Wilson (Liberal Democrats)

Sidmouth

Stuart Hughes (Conservatives) *

Louise MacAllister (East Devon Alliance)

Colin Mills (Labour)

Whimple and Blackdown

Iain Chubb (Conservatives) *

Wes Healey (Green Party)

Karen Hoyles (Liberal Democrats)

Liz Pole (Labour)

EXETER

Alphington and Cowick

Yvonne Atkinson (Labour) *

Julyan Levy (Green Party)

Katherine New (Conservatives)

Rod Ruffle (Liberal Democrats)

Duryard and Pennsylvania

Bea Gare (Women’s Equality Party)

Michael Mitchell (Liberal Democrats)

Rich Parker (Green Party)

Percy Prowse (Conservatives) *

Martyn Snow (Labour)

Exwick and St Thomas

Lee Gillett (Conservatives)

Rob Hannaford (Labour) *

Jamie Lynde (Green Party)

Frankie Rufolo (For Britain Movement)

Maya Skelton (Liberal Democrats)

Heavitree and Whipton Barton

Danny Barnes (Labour)

Alfie Carlisle (Conservatives)

Debbie Frayne (For Britain Movement)

Lily James (Liberal Democrats)

Lizzie Woodman (Green Party)

Pinhoe and Mincinglake

Tracy Adams (Labour)

Paula Fernley (Green Party)

John Harvey (Conservatives)

Kate Jago (Independent)

Henry Mayall (Liberal Democrats)

St David’s and Haven Banks

Andrew Bell (Green Party)

Arden Foster-Spink (Conservatives)

Joel Hambly (Liberal Democrats)

Carol Whitton (Labour) *

St SIdwell’s and St James

Sue Aves (Labour) *

Johanna Korndorfer (Green Party)

Kevin Mitchell (Liberal Democrats)

David Moore (Conservatives)

Wearside and Topsham

Christine Campion (Liberal Democrats)

Helen Dallimore (Labour)

Andrew Leadbetter (Conservatives) *

Jon Mills (Green Party)

Wonford and St Loye’s

Marina Asvachin (Labour) *

Jack Eade (Green Party)

Peter Holland (Conservative)

Kris Mears (Liberal Democrats)

MID DEVON

Crediton

Martin Binks (Conservative)

Elin Bold (Labour)

Christopher Hurley (Freedom Alliance)

Frank Letch (Liberal Democrats)

Creedy Taw and Mid Exe

Ann Conway (Freedom Alliance)

Paul Edwards (Green Party)

Margaret Squires (Conservatives) *

Thomas Stephenson (Labour)

David Wilson (Liberal Democrats)

Cullompton and Bradninch

John Berry (Conservatives) *

Andrea Glover (Liberal Democrats)

Edward Southerden (Labour)

Hannah Watson (Green Party)

Tiverton East

Jason Chamberlain (Labour)

Matt Farrell (Liberal Democrats)

Andrew Perris (Independent)

Colin Slade (Conservatives) *

Tiverton West

Richard Chesterton (Conservatives)

Trevor Cope (Green Party)

Ana Hendy (Independent)

Peter Hill (Labour)

Willand and Uffculme

Simon Clist (Liberal Democrats)

Fiona Hutton (Labour)

Charles Kay (Freedom Alliance)

Ray Radford (Conservatives) *

Adam Rich (Green Party)

NORTH DEVON

Barnstaple North

John Agnew (Labour)

Robbie Mack (Green Party)

Rob Pet (Freedom Alliance)

Ian Roome (Liberal Democrats)

Natasha Vukic (Conservatives)

Barnstaple South

Lou Goodger (Green Party)

Philip Hawkins (Labour)

David Hoare (Conservative)

Josie Knight (Freedom Alliance)

Caroline Leaver (Liberal Democrats)

David Luggar (Independent)

Braunton Rural

Mark Cann (Labour)

Stewart Johnstone (Freedom Alliance)

Pru Maskell (Conservatives)

David Relph (Green Party)

Liz Spear (Liberal Democrats)

Chulmleigh and Landkey

Valerie Cann (Labour)

Paul Henderson (Conservatives)

Turtle Knight (Freedom Alliance)

Glyn Lane (Independent)

Philip Mason (Independent)

Victoria Nel (Liberal Democrats)

Nick Withers (Green Party)

Combe Martin Rural

Katherine Armitage (Freedom Alliance)

Oliver Bell (Labour)

Andrea Davis (Conservatives) *

Julie Hunt (Liberal Democrats)

Steven White (Green Party)

Fremington Rural

Frank Biederman (Independent) *

Stephen Jarvis (Green Party)

Finola Oneill (Labour)

Scott Paddon (Conservatives)

Paddy Sullivan (Freedom Alliance)

Helen Walker (Liberal Democrats)

Ilfracombe

Cecily Blyther (Labour)

Paul Crabb (Conservatives) *

Syed Jusef (Liberal Democrats)

Lesley Mason (Freedom Alliance)

Netti Pearson (Green Party)

South Molton

Steve Cotton (Independent)

Steven Hinchcliffe (Labour)

Gill Saunders (Green Party)

Val Schenn (Freedom Alliance)

Alex White (Liberal Democrats)

Jeremy Yabsley (Conservatives) *

SOUTH HAMS

Bickleigh and Wembury

John Hart (Conservatives) *

Christopher Oram (Liberal Democrats)

Edward Parsons (Labour)

Emma Relph (Freedom Alliance)

Win Scutt (Green Party)

Dartmouth and Marldon

Carlo Bragagnolo (Reform UK)

Lynn Gunnigle (Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition)

Jonathan Hawkins (Conservatives) *

Kevin John (Labour)

Christian Parkes (Freedom Alliance)

Simon Rake (Liberal Democrats)

Ivybridge

Victor Abbott (Liberal Democrats)

Roger Croad (Conservatives) *

Simon Gedye (Freedom Alliance)

David Trigger (Labour)

Kingsbridge

Julian Brazil (Liberal Democrats) *

Peter Burgess (Freedom Alliance)

Samantha Dennis (Conservatives)

Paul Furlong (Labour)

Bettina Rixon (Green Party)

Salcombe

Jonno Barrett (Labour)

Jim Blake (Freedom Alliance)

Rufus Gilbert (Conservatives) *

Mark Lawrence (Liberal Democrats)

Lily Rixon (Green Party)

South Brent and Yealmpton

Paul Bishop (Labour)

Richard Hosking (Conservatives) *

James Sandy (Freedom Alliance)

Daniel Thomas (Liberal Democrats)

Totnes and Dartington

Jill Hannam (Labour)

Jacqi Hodgson (Green Party) *

Stephen Hopwood (Freedom Alliance)

Jame Rogers (Conservatives)

TEIGNBRIDGE

Ashburton and Buckfastleigh

Su Maddock (Labour)

John Nutley (Liberal Democrats)

Sarah Parker-Khan (Conservatives)

Andy Williamson (Green Party)

Bovey Rural

George Gribble (Conservatives) *

Eoghan Kelly (Independent)

Sally Morgan (Liberal Democrats)

Anna Presland (Green Party)

Lisa Robillard Webb (Labour)

Chudleigh and Teign Valley

Jerry Brook (Conservatives) *

Richard Keeling (Liberal Democrats)

Emily Simcock (Green Party)

Rick Webb (Labour)

Dawlish

Bruce Mattock (Trade Unionist and Social Coalition)

Noel Nickless (Conservatives)

Linda Petherick (Independent)

Jeff Pocock (Labour)

Richard Ward (Reform UK)

Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrats)

Exminster and Haldon

Alan Connett (Liberal Democrats) *

Lucy Rockcliffe (Green Party)

Bhav Studley (Labour)

Dudley Swain (Independent)

Terry Tume (Conservatives)

Ipplepen and the Kerswells

Chris Clarance (Conservatives)

Alistair Dewhirst (Liberal Democrats) *

John Hodgson (Labour)

Graham Read (Green Party)

Jane Taylor (Independent)

Kingsteignton and Teign Estuary

Andrew McGregor (Liberal Democrats)

James Osben (Trade Unionist and Social Coalition)

Ron Peart (Conservatives) *

Christopher Robillard (Labour)

Newton Abbot North

Phil Bullivant (Conservatives)

Ryan Hall (Trade Unionist and Social Coalition)

Liam Mullone (Independent)

Lesley Robson (Labour)

Eloise Rokirilov (Liberal Democrats)

Newton Abbot South

Janet Bradford (Independent)

John Fitzsimons (Labour)

Jane Haden (Trade Unionist and Social Coalition)

Alex Hall (Conservatives)

Colin Parker (Liberal Democrats)

Doug Pratt (Green Party)

Teignmouth

Sean Brogan (Trade Unionist and Social Coalition)

David Cox (Liberal Democrats)

Jackie Jackson (Labour)

Sylvia Russell (Conservatives) *

TORRIDGE

Bideford East

Annie Brenton (Labour)

James Craigie (Independent)

Will Douglas-Mann (Green Party)

Jude Gubb (Independent)

Linda Hellyer (Conservatives) *

Stephen Potts (Liberal Democrats)

Bideford West and Hartland

Dylan Billson (Labour)

Bert Bruins (Liberal Democrats)

Keith Funnell (Green Party)

Joel Herron (Independent)

Tony Inch (Independent) *

Paul Jelf (Freedom Alliance)

Robin Julian (Independent)

Jeffrey Wilton-Love (Conservatives)

Northam

David Chalmers (Liberal Democrats)

Leonard Ford (Independent)

Simon Mathers (Green Party)

Dermot McGeough (Conservatives)

Jake McLean (Labour)

Holsworthy Rural

Claire Davey-Potts (Liberal Democrats)

Jim Lowe (Labour)

James Morrish (Conservatives)

Cathrine Simmons (Green Party)

Pete Watson (Independent)

Torrington Rural

Chris Bright (Liberal Democrats)

Ruth Funnell (Green Party)

Andrew Saywell (Conservatives) *

Siobhan Stride (Labour)

WEST DEVON

Hatherleigh and Chagford

Lynn Daniel (Green Party)

George Dexter (Liberal Democrats)

James McInnes (Conservatives) *

Matt Morton (Reform UK)

Douglas Smith (Labour)

Okehampton Rural

Terry Edwards (Labour)

Patrick Gilbert (Liberal Democrats)

Tony Leech (Independent)

Bob Rush (Reform UK)

Lois Samuel (Conservatives)

Brian Wood (Green Party)

Tavistock

Mandy Ewings (Independent)

Chris Jordan (Green Party)

Debo Sellis (Conservatives) *

Mike Sparling (Labour)

Pete Squire (Liberal Democrats)

Yelverton Rural

Judy Maciejowksa (Green Party)

Tony Marchese (Labour)

Mark Renders (Independent)

Philip Sanders (Conservatives) *

Ashley-Ross West (Liberal Democrats)