With Reform taking so many votes (and seats) from the local conservatives in the recent Devon County Council elections, Owl wonders whether “Currently Conservative” is how the rump of Tory Councillors might now be best described.

This thought was fuelled by a claim Owl received from a reliable friendly mole that a former East Devon District Councillor (EDDC), who had stepped down at the 2023 elections, has now defected and joined Reform. 

Owl understands that members of the Tory “Old Guard” in the Exmouth and Exeter East constituency are “incandescent”.  

Owl has studied the councillors’ declared affiliations following the Annual Meeting of EDDC. Currently there are no Reform members.

Do we need to watch this space?