When asked on social media how he voted on “the ridiculous smoking law”, Simon Jupp replied:

“Hello. I did not vote for it as I’m concerned about the impact on retail workers and the difficulty of implementing the policy. I’m not a smoker, I don’t like smoking at all – but I have concerns about the plan.”

The questionnaire replied:  “…….I’m glad you voted against.” (See below)

As Owl reported yesterday Simon Jupp didn’t vote for the “law” but neither did he vote against it. In fact he sat on the fence and ABSTAINED.

Readers will recall another classic equivocation which he trots out regularly:

“I would never vote to pollute our water.” 

Which leads to the “Sixty-four thousand Dollar” question: how should we “read” Simon Jupp’s statement on the misleading website links:

Mr Jupp told the BBC he was “not responsible for the web domains”

Richard Foord MP on “X”

John and I may disagree on a lot, but I cannot fault his willingness to speak truth to power. He has [been] vocal on the issues facing Devon, not holding back or pulling his punches towards Conservative bosses in Westminster.

Claire Wright on “X”

I spent 8 years working with John Hart. We were political opponents and had a few run ins, but he was fair and decent, always telling me in person why he wasn’t going to support a motion… but sometimes he did I wish him a long and happy retirement

Cllr Paul Arnott on “X”

I was at a Team Devon meeting of all Devon district leaders today when John let us know of his news. His chairing of Team Devon was a fine example of cross county and party co-operation. Thanks John. It’s been great to work with you.

A decent “old school” Tory, one of the few with principles, who was prepared to put Devon before party and speak truth to power especially in negotiating the tricky subject of devolution. He was not afraid to say “no” to a Tory Government, for example on imposing “Mayors” on rural communities. – Owl

Adam Manning www.exmouthjournal.co.uk

The leader of Devon County Council has announced he is leaving the post after 15 years.

John Hart became Leader of Devon’s opposition Conservative Party in 2007 and won power of the county council in the 2009 election. He has remained Leader since then.

The Devon Conservative Group will hold a ballot to decide the County’s next Leader, and Mr Hart will remain in post until then.

He said: “It is the right time for me to stand down as leader. The county council is in a good position with a balanced budget.

“We’ve managed the budget this year so that we can now propose an allocation of an extra £10 million to repairing potholes and carrying out extra drainage work on our roads.

“We’ve concluded an agreement with the Government for £95 million of national funding to support our special needs education and, within weeks, we will hopefully finalise our devolution deal.”

Mr Hart was first elected to his home ward of Wembury and Erme in 1989 and now represents Wembury and Bickleigh after boundary changes.

He said: “It has been a real privilege and pleasure to serve the people of Devon for so long and I particularly want to thank the people of my ward for their continued support.

“Devon is the county in which I grew up and have lived all my life, in which I’ve run my family business, got married and raised my children and it is the county which I love.

“I must pay tribute to my wife Rita and my children for their support which has enabled me to do this job in the way that I have.”

Mr Hart said he was also proud of his record of producing balanced budgets in every year of his leadership except one exceptional year during Covid.

“Devon County Council has been a huge part of my life and I have thoroughly enjoyed working with some excellent councillors and officers to provide vital services to the people of Devon.”

Devon’s longest-serving MP, Sir Gary Streeter, said: “John has been a tower of strength in the life of the county for three decades or more.

“He has been a great servant to the people of Devon and epitomises the best principles of public service. On top of all that, he has been a wise counsellor to me on many occasions.”

Christine Channon preceded Mr Hart as Conservative leader and was county council leader for two years during the coalition administration between 2001 and 2005.

She said: “John combines great political skills with a limitless capacity for hard work.

“He’s known for being at his desk early in the morning and he’s still there when almost everybody else has gone home.

“His door is always open to councillors of all political persuasion as well as council officers. They are customarily greeted with great good humour and he always listens to their concerns.

“John has made his mark regionally and nationally as well as in Devon as exemplified by the Western Morning News regularly naming him as one of the most influential people in the South West in its annual surveys.

“He will be sorely missed as leader and we all wish him and Rita well for the future.”