And Richard Foord mentions the plight of Seaton Hospital again.

Honesty in Politics —Westminster Hall debate 23 October

Here is an extract of what the REAL MP for Tiverton and Honiton has to say on the subject.The transcript of the full debate can be found here.

Richard Foord Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Defence)  4:46, 23 October 2023

It is an honour to serve under your chairship, Mrs Murray…

….For example, the 2019 Conservative manifesto claimed that 40 new hospitals would be delivered in this Parliament, but since then we have heard that they are not hospitals, there are not 40 of them and they are not new. Instead, the community hospital in Seaton in my constituency is under threat and there are suggestions that part of it might be demolished by a wrecking ball.

We need honesty and integrity to underpin our democracy. As politicians, we have a job not only to call out fake news, but to stand up and act with integrity. Over recent years, we have seen a dangerous rise in misleading statements from political parties and politicians. Clearly, the public feel there is distortion going on. Research from the organisation Full Fact showed that 71% of the public believe there is more lying and misuse of facts in politics now than 30 years ago. Yet the Constitution Unit found that the public admire politicians who are prepared to stand up and admit mistakes, rather than being dishonest about them. On top of that, a wave of sleaze and scandal has emanated from the Conservative party, and it was one such scandal that resulted in me coming to office as the Member of Parliament for Tiverton and Honiton.

In this place, we have a mechanism for correcting the record and inadvertent errors by going before Parliament, but we need a better method for MPs to correct Hansard, rather than things being distorted and going viral over social media. We have to be wary of politicians who cook up half-baked proposals, pretend that they are meaningful policies and then claim they have scrapped them. I take as a case in point the Conservative party conference earlier this year, where ideas about seven bins were magicked up. There was a time when the office of Prime Minister was that of statesman, but to stoop this low is to go to the level less of statesman and more of binman. It is deceitful and against the Nolan principles.

Liz Saville-Roberts Shadow PC Spokesperson (Home Affairs), Shadow PC Spokesperson (Women and Equalities) , Plaid Cymru Westminster Leader, Shadow PC Spokesperson (Justice), Shadow PC Spokesperson (Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy), Shadow PC Spokesperson (Transport), Shadow PC Spokesperson (Attorney General)

I agree with much of what the hon. Gentleman says, but does he recognise that some of his proposed solutions already exist, yet we are still in the condition we find ourselves in? They do not work. Somehow or other, we need to shift the dial and, within the politics of the United Kingdom, stop rewarding those who say what they like and get away with it, and rather reward those who stick by the truth.

Richard Foord Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Defence)

The right hon. Member is exactly right. We absolutely need to put on a pedestal those people who are prepared to stand up and admit when they have made a mistake and applaud those who correct their own record.

Before I close, one other aspect that I see increasingly is neighbouring MPs claiming credit for the work and achievements of the community campaigners in my part of Devon. Flattery is clearly at play here; it is sometimes said that mimicry is a form of flattery. However, what we are seeing is against the Nolan principles of honesty and accountability.

Finally, anyone who has joined the House of Commons Chamber at the start of proceedings will remember this part of the prayer that we listen to every day. We pray that Members

“never lead the nation wrongly through love of power, desire to please, or unworthy ideals but laying aside all private interests and prejudices keep in mind their responsibility”.

Sheryll Murray Conservative, South East Cornwall

Before I call the next speaker, I gently remind hon. Members that accusations of dishonesty against currently sitting MPs should be made via the proper channels, and not in a debate on a general motion.

For the first time in a few years the Times catches Owl vigilant

Jacob Rees-Mogg trousered £16,800 in severance pay for his seven-week stint as business secretary, it has been revealed.

Archie Mitchell www.independent.co.uk 

The former minister, now being paid more than £750 an hour as a GB News presenter, was entitled to the payout on leaving the government when Liz Truss quit as prime minister.

Mr Rees-Mogg had previously championed plans to cut the amount paid to departing civil servants by a quarter. A consultancy document produced during his time as government efficiency minister, unearthed by the Mirror, said changes to redundancy pay would “create significant savings on the current cost of exits”.

New documents also reveal Tory chairman Greg Hands pocketed £7,920 when he was sacked as a minister in the business department, having served for less than a year.

A month later – one week after the cut-off for ministers having to hand back severance payments – Mr Hands was handed a new government job in the trade department.

A Labour source told the Mirror: “It is hard to know who is the bigger hypocrite for accepting these handouts: Jacob Rees-Mogg, who said the severance pay of civil servants was too generous; or Greg Hands, who is constantly preaching that the Tories are the party of sound money.

“They are both as bad as each other, and they deserve a permanent redundancy notice from the British people.”

The new figures come just months after it emerged ministers and special advisers were handed £2.9m in severance payments during the upheaval of Boris Johnson’s premiership.

The dying days of Mr Johnson’s government, and Ms Truss’s chaotic 49-day stint in Downing Street, saw a raft of resignations and sackings, with the turmoil creating a significant bill for the Government.

An annual report on special advisers showed the taxpayer stumped up £2.9m in severance payouts for the staffers.

Meanwhile many former ministers collected thousands of pounds in severance payouts after losing their government jobs.

Ms Truss and Mr Johnson were given nearly £20,000 each, despite the former being in office for just 49 days.

A fire has broken out at the derelict Seaton Heights site. Fire crews from across the South West have been sent to the scene on Monday following the major blaze which has broken out.

Chloe Parkman www.devonlive.com

The A3052 Harepath Hill in Seaton is currently shut both ways from Seaton turn off to Barnards Hill Lane. More than a dozen fire crews are on the scene.

Six fire engines, one water carrier, one command unit and three fire officers on scene, with one water carrier, one aerial ladder platform and one welfare unit also in attendance. Pictures from the scene show flames and smoke billowing from the former holiday camp.

A Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “Fire Control received several reports of a fire in the Harepath Hill area of Seaton at 4.19pm. Crews from Seaton, Colyton and Lyme Regis (DWFRS) was mobilised.

“After a short while, crews requested the attendance of a Water Carrier which was mobilised from Bridport (DWFRS). At 4.26pm – Crews confirmed that smoke and flames were issuing and requested for a 4th appliance to attend, and the fire engine from Otter St Mary was mobilised.

“At 4.56pm crews requested the attendance of additional 2 fire engines and 1 aerial ladder platform – 2x fire engines from Sidmouth and aerial ladder platform from Danes Castle was mobilised. Crews are at work with 2x breathing apparatus, 1x main jet and 1x safety jet.

“At 5.10pm crews request the attendance of a second water carrier – this was mobilised from Torquay. At 5.37pm, xix fire engines, one water carrier, one command unit and three fire officers on scene, with one water carrier, one aerial ladder platform and one welfare unit also in attendance.”

Once a popular holiday resort, the hotel complex has been left empty and dilapidated since its closure in 2005. The future of the he derelict site has become a long-running concern in the town as several planning applications have either been refused, withdrawn or fallen through after received permission.

Plans from applicants Lyme Bay Leisure Ltd to replace the existing hotel complex with 42 two-storey, detached holiday homes, along with an office, cafe with terrace and parking, and self-catering accommodation on the first floor above this, are currently under consideration by East Devon District Council.