Category Archives: Hugo Swire

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7 Jun 2017

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Accountability, Claire Wright, General Election, Hugo Swire

Claire Wright hits Russia Today news, Swire whinges!

But just to be clear – she has NOT run an anti-Brexit campaign – she has accepted Brexit and has campaigned to have it scrutinised by MPs in Parliament.

Meanwhile, all Swire can do is whinge about media bias!

https://www.rt.com/uk/391134-independent-devon-wright-swire/

While Claire is attracting young, old, male, female, urban and rural voters, this is Swire’s most recent campaign photograph:

This is (one of) Claire’s teams:

Vote for Swire: Vote Swire, a vote for old men! Vote Wright: a vote for everyone!

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6 Jun 2017

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Accountability, Claire Wright, General Election, Hugo Swire, Voting

“Devonshire Darling set to unseat ‘Dinosaur’ on the Jurassic Coast”?

“In the pretty Devon town of Ottery St Mary, home to the Weasleys and Samuel Taylor Coleridge, an electoral storm is brewing among the cream teas. Independent candidate Claire Wright may be about to wrest the seat from long-time Conservative MP Hugo Swire. And it’s all down to people power.

With 700 active supporters and 400 publicity boards across East Devon, and leaflets delivered to 45,000 homes, Claire is taking on the might of the Conservative party with the backing of literally thousands of local people. Her crowdfunding appeal has raised over £12,000 in just 4 weeks: with 75% of donations being in small amounts of £50 or under.

At the 2015 General Election, Claire gained 13,140 votes from a standing start, winning 24% of the vote. Since then, she has been re-elected as County Councillor for Ottery, with a stunning 76% of the vote on a high turnout. One of Claire’s team said “Claire stood up to Hugo in 2015, and despite a brilliant campaign got knocked back down. Instead of accepting defeat, she used that experience as a platform from which to fight even harder for the people of East Devon. If you’d asked me when I moved down here in 1995 that my vote could make a difference in this safe rural Tory seat, I would have laughed.” But now the team are quietly confident that the support they’re feeling on the streets will be translated into a massive vote this Thursday.

“It’s amazing” Claire said “after a recent hustings in Exmouth, people were queuing up to shake my hand, and telling me ‘you’re the only person who has bothered to try to win my vote’. One of my team was stopped in the street by a man waving my manifesto who wanted more information: he will be voting for me. Young people voting for the first time, older people who are worried about the dementia tax, doctors, teachers, mothers with young children, students, the unemployed, a whole range of professions, all are uniting in a shared desire for a passionate, caring, hardworking MP for East Devon.’

‘A Sidmouth woman marrying an Exmouth man took time out from her wedding day on Saturday to have her photo taken with one of my boards. All her family are voting for me this time’.

Joshua and Jamie Anderson (aged 21 and 19 respectively) are from Exton on the river Exe. They said “We would prefer to vote for our own parties, but having read Claire Wright’s manifesto, we are happy to put our preferences aside and vote for her. For too long, the Tories have treated East Devon as a safe seat and Mr Swire has been neglecting us – and getting away with it. Whatever party you belong to, we need to rally now behind Claire Wright, our only hope in East Devon.”

West Hill resident and Claire’s team member Lisa Simpson said “I’ve been a Labour supporter since I was old enough to vote and never contemplated supporting another party, nor indeed tactical voting, but I was won over, not only by a realistic opportunity to unseat a Conservative MP but by Claire’s integrity and work ethic.”

But it’s not only Labour and Lib Dem supporters who are putting up her posters “There are disenchanted Conservatives, angry that their man did not bother to attend hustings, showing their support. The local Green party is backing me all the way. But more importantly, people who’ve never voted before, young voters, people who abstained last time, are realising they can be part of a quiet revolution right here in Budleigh Salterton and Sidmouth. We’re demonstrating a new way of doing politics that responds to local people and seeks consensus rather than confrontation.”

Pollsters, bookies and tactical voting sites all agree that she’s offering a strong challenge. All the tactical voting sites endorse her: Best for Britain and Tactical 2017 see her as the best option to defeat the Conservative. Yougov polling shows Wright and Swire running neck and neck. And William Hill have been progressively shortening her odds over the last few weeks: she’s now at 3/1. Even Booker prize-winning writer Hilary Mantel has endorsed her campaign, saying ‘she is local, energetic and knowledgeable… Claire Wright is the candidate who will speak up for Devon East.’

The final word goes to a key member of Claire’s core team: “This campaign has been life-changing, energetic and electric. From the moment our voluntary core team was created and more than 500 people immediately offered to support Claire, it was clear that something extraordinary was taking place. Watching people rise up to support a person of genuine integrity, sincerity and morality through giving support, time and money, has been amazing and emotional. Democracy in its raw and rarest form is taking place right here in Devon and we are all a part of that story. The welfare of the people in this Constituency is finally being placed above the interest of the wealthy minority by a figure that people are willing to stand behind, protect and defend. But there is no aggression, no fear, no anger. What is taking place in East Devon is a considerate, positive and energetic revolution, with Claire Wright at the helm; our Devonshire darling”

Can that darling, the most successful genuine independent in the UK in the 2015 election secure a historical victory in 2017? With the right amount of local support: Yes she can!

As Margaret Mead put it: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has”.

Or as local boy Samuel Taylor Coleridge said “Nothing is so contagious as enthusiasm.”

Source: press release

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5 Jun 2017

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Accountability, General Election, Hugo Swire

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Where does Swire go to meet “ordinary people”?

Remember Swire refused to go to hustings because he wanted to go out and about meeting “ordinary voters”?

Darts Farm Vintage Car Show!

Anyone seen him anywhere more “ordinary”?

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4 Jun 2017

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Accountability, General Election, Hugo Swire

Swire: Daily Telegraph had him taped in 2008!

Some extracts from an article in the Daily Telegraph from July 2008 when Swire was “last executive standing” at Photo-me which had got in financial difficulties. It was eventually sold to Sunday Times Rich List executive Serge Crasnianski and he gets an “advisory allowance” of £3,000 per month for approximately 8 hours work in that period as detailed in this article:

https://eastdevonwatch.org/2017/05/31/swires-other-jobs-which-includes-advice-to-a-company-that-owns-jolly-roger-amusement-rides-ltd/

The profile was written after he was “sacked from David Cameron’s shadow cabinet after a brouhaha about Tory policy on museum admission charges” but before he became a Government Minister.

THE EXTRACTS:

“Life has been something of a pigsty for Photo-Me, best known for its photo booths in shops and train stations. So it’s familiar territory for the MP for East Devon, whose prize possession is a five-year-old show pig called Maud. …

With his ivory shirt, pale blue tie, military bearing and slightly thinning comb-over, the 48-year-old bears many of the hallmarks of an old-school Tory.

Eton-educated and raised in the Oxfordshire village where Cameron now resides, Swire is married to Sasha, novelist and daughter of the former defence secretary Sir John Nott, and is a member of the Swire shipping dynasty. …

As for the Swire empire, he has but “a small number of shares” in one of its subsidiaries. “It’s a huge international conglomerate controlled by my relations, and my relations with them are extremely cordial but they are genetic rather than financial… unfortunately,” he chuckles, charmingly self-mocking.

“It was useful shorthand for people to assume that I am, first, a multi-billionaire and, second, an Eton crony and deputy of David, but none is based on fact – alas, in both cases.” [Cameron gave him one of the croney knighthoods when he jumped the Brexit ship last year]

… Swire, who joined as a non-executive director in 2005 – before taking the interim chairmanship in April and, more recently, the permanent chairmanship – bought 25,000 shares at 85p in 2006. They closed at 12p last week. Whoops.

… So what of the £4.3m the company splurged on advisers’ fees relating to the failed sale of the vending division? “It is extraordinary, extraordinary,” says Swire. “And perhaps the only guy who’s more unhappy about that than me is Thierry Barel, who just cannot understand it.”

Erm, hold on, did Swire not know at the time how much money was being spent? “Well, I wasn’t the chairman.” Yes, but he was on the board. “Well, yeah, we did know it was happening but what could we do at the time? We had to produce the data and when you start having accountants producing that kind of data, lawyers and things like that, we all know the fees ratchet up.”

… Swire’s desire is to hand over the chairmanship before too long to re-enter top-level politics and realise an ambition of over 30 years. “Nothing is forever in life. I am up for re-election as a non-executive in October and it may be that shareholders don’t want me to continue at that point, or it may that I don’t want to continue at that point.”

Then he lurches into political fantasy [except unfortunately for us, ir wasn’t]. “I think I will want to stay, but clearly if the Prime Minister goes down badly in the Glasgow East by-election this week and is forced to resign and an incoming Labour PM calls a snap election, it’s not impossible that by the autumn that we might be in a General Election, in which case if the Conservative Government were to win, maybe I would be asked to step up to some plate in the Prime Minister’s Cabinet, in which case outside interests have to go anyway. [You can see here how far in advance Tory plans are made]

“My guess is the maximum I will be at the company is two years – that’s assuming that I am offered a job by David.” [The bloke he says above isn’t a croney] Then he pauses and reflects. “So maybe I’ll be at the company forever!” [Indeed, that is what seems to have happened]

Despite his winning self-deprecation, Swire looks well-qualified for government, especially a role relating to the arts, although his old job is occupied by Jeremy Hunt. [Oh heck!]

“I think it’s very difficult for me to aspire to that job when it is being occupied by a very capable colleague, so I don’t think I am going to get it,” he says, before adding, with political savvy: “There are huge issues facing that department, though.

… Like Dave, he even had a spell in financial PR. He also boasts expertise in Middle Eastern politics [yes, seems he has been interested for a long time] and has a track history of fund-raising for charity [whilst making some very bad taste jokes about the poor]. Then there’s Maud the show pig.

If Swire and his team can lift Photo-Me out of the muck, it would surely be a comeback to rival the Tory renaissance.” [And, perhaps not surprisingly, it was!]

Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/mediatechnologyandtelecoms/2793133/Hugo-Swire-MP-clicks-as-new-head-of-Photo-Me.html

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4 Jun 2017

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Terrorism, Saudi Arabia and Swire – a complex relationship

“An investigation into the foreign funding of extremist Islamist groups may never be published, the Home Office has admitted. …

[This inquiry was set up while Hugo Swire was at the Foreign Office

https://eastdevonwatch.org/2016/09/13/new-inquiry-into-arms-for-saudi-arabia-under-hugo-swires-watch/

after which, following his sacking by Theresa May, he became ChAirman of the Conservative Middle East Council and Deputy Chairman of the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council (CWEIC)]

… The inquiry commissioned by David Cameron, was launched as part of a deal with the Liberal Democrats in December 2015, in exchange for the party supporting the extension of British airstrikes against Isis into Syria.

But although it was due to be published in the spring of 2016, it has not been completed and may never be made public due to its “sensitive” contents.

It is thought to focus on Saudi Arabia, which the UK recently approved £3.5bn worth of arms export licences to. …

Accusing the Conservatives of being “worried about upsetting their dodgy friends in the Middle East”, he said party had “broken their pledge to investigate funding of violent Islamist groups in the UK”.

He added: “That short-sighted approach needs to change. It is critical that these extreme, hard line views are confronted head on, and that those who fund them are called out publicly.”

It comes after Home Secretary Amber Rudd suggested during a leadership debate, that UK arms sales to Saudi Arabia are good for industry.”

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/home-office-terrorist-funding-report-saudia-arabia-focus-not-publish-conservatives-government-a7766381.html

SWIRE’S TAKE ON ARMS TO SAUDI ARABIA:

“I am reassured that the Government takes seriously its legal obligations as regards the licensing of arms for export to Saudi Arabia and elsewhere. The UK has one of the most rigorous licensing regimes in the world.

Each application is considered on a case-by-case basis against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria, taking into account the precise nature of the equipment and the identity and track record of the recipient. The Government has consistently said it does not, and will not, issue licences where it judges that the proposed export would provoke or prolong internal conflicts, or where there is a clear risk it might be used to facilitate internal repression or be used aggressively against another country. I have always fully supported this stance.

Saudi Arabia has publicly stated that it is investigating reports of alleged violations of International Humanitarian Law. This is an important process and the UK is fully behind thorough investigations into all allegations of violations of International Law. Finding a political solution to the conflict in Yemen is the best way to bring long-term stability and peace talks are a top priority.

As you know, the Saudi-led coalition confirmed in December that a limited number of BL755 cluster munitions that were exported from the UK in the 1980s were used in Yemen, including by a coalition aircraft not far from the Saudi border. The coalition, whose members are not parties to the convention on cluster munitions, has said that they were used against a legitimate military target and did not therefore contravene international humanitarian law. However, Saudi Arabia has now confirmed that it will not use BL755 cluster munitions further, which I welcome.

The Government continues to monitor the situation closely, using cross-Departmental resources to seek further information. Additionally, the Government continues to welcome any further information NGOs can provide.”

https://www.hugoswire.org.uk/sale-arms-saudi-arabia-0

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4 Jun 2017

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Claire Wright, General Election, Hugo Swire

“Latest YouGov poll predicts Claire Wright to WIN in East Devon”

EVERY VOTE WILL COUNT!

“The political landscape of East Devon could be set to change as the latest YouGov poll suggests that Claire Wright is on course to win in East Devon.

The poll says that the Independent candidate has a 40 per cent likelihood of winning the seat, while Hugo Swire, the sitting Conservative candidate, has a 39 per cent chance of retaining the seat that he has held since 2001.”

Source: http://www.devonlive.com/latest-yougov-poll-predicts-claire-wright-to-win-in-east-devon/story-30366447-detail/story.html

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2 Jun 2017

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Accountability, Claire Wright, General Election, Hugo Swire

Claire Wright – “East Devon’s Macron”!

Press release:

“East Devon Independent Claire Wright is now within an ace of taking the Tory heartland seat of East Devon.

This week polling company YouGov predicted that political independent Claire Wright will win the seat of Devon East which includes Exmouth, Sidmouth and parts of Exeter as well as Devon’s newest town of Cranbrook. The constituency has been Conservative since it was created in 1997.

Claire who stood for the first time in 2015 and came second has had a terrific campaign, she has been endorsed by Gina Miller’s Best for British campaign group as one of 25 key national political figures who can help stop extreme Brexit; she is the only Independent endorsed by Voting Site Tactical2017, her odds have steadily improved from 9/2 to 10/3 while her opponents’ have worsened and she is the only credible alternative to the Conservatives.

But it is out on the streets where her campaign has really taken off. Her crowd funding website has raised more than £12 000 in over 200 donations in less than four weeks, there are boards and posters and banners everywhere and people are coming up to Claire and her canvassers in the streets to wish her well. Her Facebook page is alive with support and encouragement and her army of 600 volunteers has been busy day and night to bring this home for Claire and the people of East Devon.

Claire has captured the mood of the moment – as the polls narrow nationally and the debate centres on health, education and elderly care Claire is here with a track record of working for people in local government, rather than relying on sound bites and hiding from the people as Prime Minister Theresa May has done.

The local conservative candidate Hugo Swire has been heavily criticised for being an absentee MP who has claimed (on his blog) that the role of MP isn’t a job and it is part time. This is costing him dear as many of his core voters look to Claire’s track record of action in the community.

Her appeal is broad and she has built a rainbow coalition with people from across the political spectrum getting behind her to send a strong message to politicians that if you want to represent us you must work for us.

Claire says:
“I’m over the moon at the level of support I’m getting and that the people of East Devon are realising they can be part of one of the biggest electoral upsets in UK history.

“On the streets of East Devon, in towns like Sidmouth and Budleigh Salterton, there’s a real sense of excitement. People are coming up to me full of enthusiasm, asking for posters and boards to put up, taking copies of my manifesto to give to their friends. After a recent hustings in Exmouth dozens and dozens of people wanted to shake my hand. People are telling me they’re tired of the Tories, tired of attacks on pensioners, and angry with Hugo Swire’s complacency.

“I would love to have the chance to be MP for East Devon. I was born in Devon and I’ve lived in this constituency for most of my life. I love Ottery and East Devon and I want to take the voices of the people straight to Westminster. As an independent MP I won’t have to follow a ‘whip’ but I’ll be free to follow my conscience and that of my fellow Devonians.

The time for out of touch and arrogant tribal politics is over. Now more than ever people want someone honest and transparent and that is exactly what Claire is.

Claire is East Devon’s Macron, she isn’t tribal and she isn’t part of the party machine of either left or right.

This is a key election for the U.K. and Claire Wright is at the heart of the story in East Devon.”

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2 Jun 2017

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Accountability, Economy, General Election, Hugo Swire

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Swire: how to say one thing and mean another

His newspaper submission. As he’s doung a Theresa May and refusing to appear at hustings, it’s all we have to go on.

My main concentration if re-elected would be to support the Government in its Brexit negotiations [he was a Remainer] .

The next five years are the most challenging that Britain has faced in my lifetime. Brexit will define us as a nation [no it won’t WE define ourselves as a nation] .

It will define our place in the world, our economic security and our future prosperity. For that we need a clear plan and stable leadership [er, Owl thinks May has already scotched that one!].

We also need to lock in the economic progress we have made already Massively increased debt, lowest growth rate in Europe, devalued pound] because a successful economy is the key to a successful nation; it means you can help those left behind [by cutting benefits for the old and the vulnerable], you can build better schools and hospitals [whilst following plans to privatise, close hospitals and sell them off and cutting school funds – how do you do that exactly?], look after the elderly [by closing community hospitals and the dementia tax”] .

Locally, we need to work closely with NHS providers as it moves towards a new model of care [privatising, closing hospitals without other options being in place] to cope with an ever increasing ageing population and to protect our beautiful environment by importing EU protections then tailoring them to fit our own special requirements [right! we all know what that means!]

Vote for this man at your peril!

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1 Jun 2017

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Swire’s voting record in Parliament

An extract:

Almost always voted against restricting the provision of services to private patients by the NHS
Show votes
0 votes for, 5 votes against, 2 absences, between 2011–2012

Generally voted for reforming the NHS so GPs buy services on behalf of their patients
Show votes
4 votes for, 0 votes against, 3 absences, between 2011–2012

Almost always voted against introducing foundation hospitals
Show votes
0 votes for, 4 votes against, 1 absence, in 2003

Voted a mixture of for and against smoking bans
Show votes
2 votes for, 4 votes against, 5 absences, between 2002–2015

Has never voted on allowing terminally ill people to be given assistance to end their life

Generally voted for reducing housing benefit for social tenants deemed to have excess bedrooms (which Labour describe as the “bedroom tax”)
Show votes
8 votes for, 0 votes against, 9 absences, between 2012–2014

Consistently voted against raising welfare benefits at least in line with prices
Show votes
0 votes for, 5 votes against, in 2013

Almost always voted against paying higher benefits over longer periods for those unable to work due to illness or disability
Show votes
0 votes for, 11 votes against, 4 absences, between 2011–2016

Generally voted for making local councils responsible for helping those in financial need afford their council tax and reducing the amount spent on such support
Show votes
2 votes for, 0 votes against, 2 absences, in 2012

Almost always voted for a reduction in spending on welfare benefits
Show votes
39 votes for, 0 votes against, 15 absences, between 2012–2016

Almost always voted against spending public money to create guaranteed jobs for young people who have spent a long time unemployed
Show votes
0 votes for, 7 votes against, 2 absences, between 2011–2014

Generally voted for reducing housing benefit for social tenants deemed to have excess bedrooms (which Labour describe as the “bedroom tax”)
Show votes
8 votes for, 0 votes against, 9 absences, between 2012–2014

Consistently voted against raising welfare benefits at least in line with prices
Show votes
0 votes for, 5 votes against, in 2013

Almost always voted against paying higher benefits over longer periods for those unable to work due to illness or disability
Show votes
0 votes for, 11 votes against, 4 absences, between 2011–2016

Generally voted for making local councils responsible for helping those in financial need afford their council tax and reducing the amount spent on such support
Show votes
2 votes for, 0 votes against, 2 absences, in 2012

Almost always voted for a reduction in spending on welfare benefits
Show votes
39 votes for, 0 votes against, 15 absences, between 2012–2016

Almost always voted against spending public money to create guaranteed jobs for young people who have spent a long time unemployed
Show votes
0 votes for, 7 votes against, 2 absences, between 2011–2014

Source: https://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/11265/hugo_swire/east_devon/votes

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31 May 2017

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Swire’s other jobs – which includes advice to a company that owns “Jolly Roger (Amusement Rides) Ltd”!

Job 1 – Deputy Chairman of the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council (CWEIC)

For this job Swire has declared a salary of £2,000 per month which is said to be for 2 days work a month as cited below:

“You asked for the Committee’s advice [Office of the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments] OFFICE OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS APPOINTMENTS] about accepting a new role as Deputy Chairman of the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council (CWEIC).

CWEIC is an international organisation representing governments and business from across the Commonwealth. It promotes trade between Commonwealth countries and their work includes bringing together Commonwealth Trade Ministers and leaders to discuss trade and investment cooperation.

The Committee noted that as Deputy Chairman, the role would be part­time, paid, and involve around two days’ work per month. This would include attending four Board meetings a year, conferences and other meetings related to CWEIC in order to promote their activities.”

PLUS

Job 2: Advisor to KIS (France)

For his other job of advising Photo Me he has declared an income of £3,000 per month for approximately 8 hours work per month = £375 per hour:

“Sir Hugo sought the Committee’s advice about taking up a paid, part-time appointment as an advisor to KIS (France), a manufacturer of photo booths and mini labs.

When considering this application the Committee noted that KIS (France) is a subsidiary of Photo-Me plc, which Sir Hugo was previously associated with when the Conservative Party was in opposition, as non-executive Chairman.

The Committee took into account that Sir Hugo’s role with KIS is not likely to include any contact with Government and his former department raised no concerns about it.”

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/swire-hugo-minister-of-state-fco-acoba-recommendation/summary-of-business-appointments-applications-sir-hugo-swire

KIS is run by Serge Crasnianski and the company has diversified into the laundry business, with a division called ‘Revolution’. Revolution is a 24/7 outdoor self-service launderette:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serge_Crasnianski

‘Mr Crasnianski, also an alumni of the Sunday Times’ 1,000 Richest People in Britain, now owns 22.5 per cent of the company’s shares.”

https://www.ft.com/content/2352b460-d341-11e6-b06b-680c49b4b4c0

It’s doing well:

“Investors piled into photo booths operator Photo-Me after its chief executive bought another big chunk of shares.

Serge Crasnianski spent £4.6 million on shares, taking his stake to above 22%, just four days after he splashed out £3 million on the AIM-listed company’s shares.”

http://www.standard.co.uk/business/market-report-pittards-is-handbagged-by-ethiopian-troubles-a3425961.html

“During the year, the Group paid dividends totalling £18.2m in respect of the interim and final dividend for the year ended 30 April 2015.
The interim dividend for the year ended 30 April 2016 (2.575p per share) declared in December 2015 was paid in May 2016 and amounted
to £9.7m.”

Click to access Photo-Me%202016_AR_Spreads.pdf

And one rather surprising subsidiary company owned by this company!

“Children’s rides manufactured by Jolly Roger (Amusement Rides) Limited, a subsidiary company in the UK, are produced in accordance with the industry guidance issued by BACTA (British Amusement and Catering Trades Association). “

Click to access Photo-Me%202016_AR_Spreads.pdf

and
http://www.jolly-roger.co.uk/

Well, he won’t starve if he loses his other part-time job!

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30 May 2017

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Accountability, Claire Wright, East Devon Electoral/Returning Officer, General Election, Hugo Swire, Mark Williams CEO EDDC, Voting

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Oh no! East Devon’s General Election postal voting screwed up AGAIN

It happened in the 2015 election when the wrong voting instructions were sent out with postal votes:

http://www.devonlive.com/apology-issued-east-devon-postal-voters-affected/story-26395839-detail/story.html

and now it’s happening again this year – but worse and affecting many more people.

And in an election where a handful of votes might decide a winner between Swire and Claire Wright.

If Claire Wright is within 9,000 votes of Swire could she demand a rerun?

Our Returning Officer was called to Parliament to explain why he “lost” 6,000 voters too – saying he preferred to telephone them rather than sending canvassers into deepest, darkest East Devon:

We have identified most of those 6,000 missing voters – just in time for the coming elections

In 2015 he blamed his postal vote fiasco on “inexperienced staff”:

Being in charge of elections at EDDC means never having to say sorry and blaming your staff

What will it be this year?

Is it perhaps time for Mr Williams (EDDC CEO and Election Officer) to consider his position(s)?

THIS YEAR’S FIASCO AFFECTS 9,000 POSTAL VOTES

“A total of 9,000 postal voters in East Devon have been reassured after a mistake meant their slips did not have the correct security mark.

A statement has been issued today by the Acting Returning Officer for the East Devon Constituency (Mark Williams) to reassure postal voters who have not yet returned their postal votes.

He said: “It has come to my attention that the postal vote packs we issued on 25th May contained voting slips that did not have an official security mark visible on the front of the ballot paper. This has affected a total of 9,000 postal voters.

“I want to reassure those postal voters affected that if they have not yet returned their postal votes they should still do so. We have taken all the necessary steps to ensure the postal votes are valid and will be counted. I apologise for the error but want to reassure postal voters that they should still complete their postal voting statements and return their postal voting envelopes back to me for validating as part of the normal postal voting process.

“To be valid, a postal vote has to be accompanied by a valid postal voting statement containing the voters date of birth and signature. After these are checked, the envelope containing the postal voting slip is opened and the slip is put into a sealed ballot box where it is kept safe until the formal count. My postal vote opening teams will ensure that all validly completed postal votes are double checked so that they will go forward to the count along with all the other votes that will be cast on polling day itself.”

There is a second issue of postal votes tomorrow (31st May) and all the postal voting slips will have the appropriate security mark. Similarly all ballot papers issued at the polling stations will have the necessary security mark.

The news comes after it was revealed East Devon was chosen as one of eight UK constituencies to be monitored as part of an international mission to ensure elections are fair.

The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) has announced that the constituency will be one of its target seats for the general election.

An Election Assessment Mission (EAM) will be conducted in the area from June 4 to 9 by Phillip Paulwell, an MP from Jamaica who will lead a team of Observers from the Commonwealth.

The Mission, which is being arranged by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association UK Branch (CPA UK) as it did in the 2015 and 2010 general elections, will also observe elections in seven other UK constituencies to oversee:

polling
counting
post-election complaints or appeals

The team will compromise of three parliamentarians and one election official from Tonga who will monitor Election Day procedures at polling stations, meet with candidates, returning officers, local officials, community groups and other relevant stakeholders in order to assess the conduct of the election.”

http://www.devonlive.com/thousands-of-east-devon-postal-voters-reassured-after-voting-slip-error/story-30362465-detail/story.html

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29 May 2017

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Accountability, Claire Wright, Democracy, General Election, Hugo Swire

MPs and their tenuous links to their constituencies

Well, we know that Hugo Swire lives in Mid Devon, now here’s another who prefers not to live in his constituency:

Source: Facebook Unseat Marcus Fysh

At least Hampshire is in England – our MP spends lots of time travelling the world as Chairman of the Conservative Middle East Council:

“A January 2016 Middle East Monitor investigation revealed that nearly all of the CMEC’s financial backers have strong business interests in Saudi Arabia and its smaller Gulf allies, ranging from defence to manufacturing to energy resources”

Time to pack him off on his camel?

(Claire Wright – Independent – was born, raised, educated and has family in East Devon and continues to live here; the Lib Dem candidate is a Teignmouth Councillor; the Labour Party’s candidate may or may not live in East Devon (says so but candidate documents say Central Devon).

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29 May 2017

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Accountability, Claire Wright, Hugo Swire

Claire Wright reaches her £10,000 crowdfunding target

Though Owl is sure she would be grateful for more – she doesn’t have big donors or battle buses to call on – just ordinary people. You know, those affected by health cuts, education cuts and environmental destruction.

The ones caused by Hugo Swire’s party and its fat cat donors.

The choice really is yours.

https://www.crowdpac.co.uk/campaigns/2644/claire-wright

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28 May 2017

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Claire Wright, Environment (local), General Election, Hugo Swire

Who do you believe on the environment – Claire Wright or Hugo Swire

Claire Wright said that the environment post-Brexit wouldn’t be in safe hands if Conservatives win and did something about it for Devon:

http://www.claire-wright.org/index.php/post/devon_county_council_signs_up_to_my_motion_on_protecting_devons_nature_afte

Hugo Swire said she was scare-mongering and it would be fine:

https://www.hugoswire.org.uk/news/blog-birds-and-bees-and-brexit

The Guardian now says:

“The UK is lobbying Europe to water down a key energy-saving target despite the fact it will not take effect until after Brexit, according to leaked documents that sparked warnings that energy bills could rise and jobs put at risk.

On the day Theresa May triggered article 50, government officials asked the European commission to weaken or drop elements of its flagship energy efficiency law.

Green campaigners warned that the efforts to undermine the energy efficiency directive were a sign the Conservatives would dilute or abolish European energy and climate policies after the UK leaves the EU.

In the past, the UK has publicly welcomed the targets, which end in 2020, as an important driver for reducing consumer bills and reliance on energy imports.

The European commission wants a binding target of improving energy efficiency 30% by 2030, compared with business-as-usual.

But documents obtained by Greenpeace, dated 29 March, show the UK urging the commission to lower the goal to 27% and make it non-binding on the EU’s 28 members. A more recent version, dated 22 May and seen by the Guardian, shows the UK has maintained its stance. …

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/may/28/uk-presses-europe-to-dilute-flagship-energy-efficiency-law

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28 May 2017

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Accountability, Claire Wright, Health and Social Care (local), Hugo Swire, Neil Parish, NHS (local)

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Health service underfund: nothing to do with patients, everything to do with politicians

All the more reason to vote for Claire Wright and not Hugo Swire, who voted for the Health and Social Care Act 2012 that created the money-gobbling, privatising internal market (though Blair started PFI as a way of cooking the Treasury’s books).

One reason for East Devon bed closures is that Tiverton Hospital (24 beds) CANNOT be reduced in beds or closed because it would be too expensive to break the PFI contract.

And Owl STILL wants to know if Neil Parish’s new hip is private or NHS.

“Councils and hospital trusts are trying to ditch controversial private finance initiative (PFI) deals as austerity makes them unaffordable.

The long-term deals, which were hugely popular in the 2000s, were used to pay for new schools, hospitals, prisons and roads. They were designed to shift risk to the private sector but were often struck on inflexible terms spanning several decades. Cash-strapped public sector bodies are increasingly trying to escape from PFI deals as the contracts eat up bigger slices of their revenues.

Councils are turning to an obscure arm of the Treasury, the Public Works Loan Board, to refinance debt at a much lower rate — shifting the risk back onto the state. Ending deals also exposes councils to hefty compensation fees.

Deals including a £2.7bn highways contract in Birmingham and a waste contract in Essex are under pressure. An industry adviser said several hospital trusts are trying to unwind PFI deals. “They have to balance shrinking budgets in the near term and the PFIs are increasingly gobbling up their revenues.”

Source: Sunday Times (paywall)

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27 May 2017

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Accountability, Claire Wright, Democracy, General Election, Hugo Swire, Mark Williams CEO EDDC, Scrutiny, Transparency, Voting

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International observers choose to oversee fairness of East Devon General Election

Returning Officer Mark Williams, EDDC CEO must be delighted.

“An international mission to ensure elections are fair has chosen East Devon among eight UK constituencies to be monitored on June 8.

The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) has announced that the constituency will be one of its target seats for the general election.

Tory Sir Hugo Swire is bidding to retain the seat – one of the safest in the county – and see off a challenge from popular local independent candidate Claire Wright.

Ms Wright, who finished second in 2015, has been selected by a tactical voting website as the best option for non Tories to topple the long-serving former cabinet minister, the only independent to receive such an endorsement.

An Election Assessment Mission (EAM) will be conducted in the area from June 4 to 9 by Phillip Paulwell, an MP from Jamaica who will lead a team of Observers from the Commonwealth.

The Mission, which is being arranged by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association UK Branch (CPA UK) as it did in the 2015 and 2010 general elections, will also observe elections in seven other UK constituencies to oversee:

polling
counting
post-election complaints or appeals

The team will compromise of three parliamentarians and one election official from Tonga who will monitor Election Day procedures at polling stations, meet with candidates, returning officers, local officials, community groups and other relevant stakeholders in order to assess the conduct of the election.

Head of Mission Sebastian Pillay an MP from the Seychelles, said: “Exercising the right to vote is a fundamental part of democracy.

“CPA UK’s Election Assessment Mission will seek to ensure the UK election process is legitimate and representative of the electorate.

“On behalf of the team, we look forward to engaging with the democratic process in the UK.”

Chief Executive of CPA UK, Andrew Tuggey added: “This third UK Election Assessment Mission is a vital element of CPA UK’s commitment to enhance openness and transparency in parliamentary democracy across the Commonwealth. Assessing elections upholds the core values of the Commonwealth.

The following will observe events in East Devon:

Phillip Paulwell CD MP (lead observer) – Jamaica
-Hon. Yvette D’ath MP – Australia
-Hon. Ichungw’ah Antony Kimani MP – Kenya
-Rt Hon. Lord Dalgety QC – Tonga”

http://www.devonlive.com/east-devon-the-focus-of-international-mission-to-ensure-fair-elections/story-30346585-detail/story.html

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26 May 2017

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Education (local), Hugo Swire

“School spending to fall by 7 per cent if Conservatives win election, Institute for Fiscal Studies says”

From today’s Daily Telegraph – Swire’s wishy-washy letter to the PM seems to have gone ignored. It must have been SO much better for Swire when old-Etonian pals and holiday companions Cameron and Osborne were in charge:

“School spending per pupil looks set to fall by 7 per cent despite a Conservative pledge to increase the education budget if the party wins the general election.

However spending would increase if either Labour or the Liberal Democrats win power, according to the independent Institute for Fiscal Studies.

In a new paper examining each of the main political parties proposals for education spending, the IFS calculated school budgets in England could face a real-terms cut of almost 3 per cent by 2021/22 if the Tories win the election.

This rises to a 7 per cent reduction by 2021/22 once the cuts schools have faced over the past two years are taken into account.

Labour’s plans would leave per pupil spending 6 per cent higher in real terms over the same five year period – 2017/18 to 2021/22.

The IFS – which publishes a wide appraisal of all the manifestos today – the Liberal Democrats’ plans would see per pupil spending protected in real terms at the 2017/18 level. …”