but maybe not at the school gates of Eton, where Hugo went to school!
http://gu.com/p/48vb2
Category Archives: Hugo Swire
It’s time to decide
Less than a week to go. The information is all out there (see the links to all parties above). You know where our votes are going but yours is yours to decide.
If you have a postal vote, check that you have the right instructions (voting for as many people as each ward has, not just one cross per ward in multi-councillor wards). Send those envelopes back as soon as possible.
And remember, the website for East Devon Alliance:
which has masses of information on all its candidates – the only group that has such comprehensive information…and even Video Intros for most of the candidates!
Cranbrook hustings, first report
From a correspondent who was there:
“Claire Wright was the winner tonight, with about 150 people in the audience.
And hopefully she will be the winner on 7 May.”
Smaller parties and independents could hold the balance of power in Parliament
Nate Silver, the number-cruncher who had a 100% success rate in predicting the outcome of the last US presedential election in all 50 states, was brought to the UK by the BBC Panorama programme to see the situation here.
His prediction is that no two large parties together (Conservative/Lib Dem or Labour/SNP) will get an overall majority and both major parties will need the extra support of smaller parties and independents to form a majority coalition.
What a great time to be an Independent MP – they talk about Nicola Sturgeon being powerful in a hung Parliament and wresting major deals for Scotland – imagine if the king-maker was Claire Wright wresting major deals for East Devon!
Another hustings packed to overflowing last night, this time in Sidmouth
The third in the series of hustings organised in Sidmouth (for District,Town and Parliamentary elections, respectively), admirably had all five of the Prospective Parliamentary Candidates (PPCs) there to meet the public face to face.
Andrew Chapman (UKIP), Hugo Swire (Cons) , Stuart Mole Lib Dem), Claire Wright (Ind) and Steve Race (Labour) gave their views clearly and characteristically, from their various standpoints, showing that politicians are NOT all the same!
The evening began with an element of almost high comedy, as a phalanx of Tory supporters arrived half an hour early, having been informed in an e-mail from the party office of the wrong start time…rather conveniently enabling them to claim the front row seats.
There was not enough time to cover all the questions submitted, but topics were wide-ranging. They included Trident,and defence spending; decarbonising the energy sector; provision of mental health services; and housing figures in East Devon’s latest draft Local Plan.
The audience was clearly strongly divided, but for the most part listened attentively to the speakers.,although there were outbreaks of heckling when the Party lines were rolled out, as when Hugo Swire (Con) said repeatedly that Labour + the SNP would make a chaotic combination in government; and UKIP’s Andrew Chapman insisted our housing shortage was caused by EU immigrants. There was also applause, as when Claire Wright declared, in her closing speech, that as an MP she would never belittle people who were poorer than herself.
At the end of the meeting, VgS Chair, Dave Bramley, praised the courage of the five PPCs, for being prepared to stand on their platform in front of the large audience (about 200 people), and answer questions in person. Regrettably, the bulk of the District Councillors representing Sidmouth, sitting in those front row seats last night, had not been so keen to do so themselves, having boycotted the previous two Sidmouth hustings as “too political”, we hear. Last night all that was required of them was to clap in unison, on cue.
EDW note: If the hustings in progress right now, at St Martins School, Cranbrook, is equally well-attended….is it a sign of the times?
Swire should concentrate on issues
“MIGHT any of your readers enlighten me as to any valid reason why Hugo Swire should bother complaining about whether or not the East Devon constituency should be regarded as a safe, not marginal, seat? (Letters 23 April).
Putting aside the fact that this election is, for a variety of reasons, unlike any other ( thus raising doubts as to the value of using previous election data) why should it be a priority for him when he could be addressing us on real local issues?
I can only assume that Mr Swire thinks that by claiming the seat is a safe Tory seat, and thus his for the taking and regardless of any earned entitlement, he hopes to discourage any non-Tory voters from voting.
Is this not an example of the arrogance so many accuse him of? Does he take us for fools perhaps?
To make matters worse, in another newspaper, I notice that when telling us why we should vote for him he singularly fails to mention East Devon in his statement.
It is such arrogance, compounded by a very low record of interest in East Devon outside of the election period, a record of unwise expense claims and a demonstrable lack of understanding of those who, unlike himself, ‘are in it together’ in the austerity measures generated by his party, that now makes East Devon very much less of a safe seat.
Indeed there are many signs that Mr Swire may have a Portillo moment at the count.
Thankfully there are now, more than ever, independently minded people who can see why the Electoral Reform Society call safe seats ‘the 21st Century’s rotten boroughs’ and are prepared to do the right thing to change the outcome.
It is time for change.
T Todd
Exmouth”
Visits by Hugo Swire in the East Devon constituency MP 2010-2015
Hugo Swire has apparently been suggesting that he has made many visits in his constituency during the life of this parliament, particularly to schools. A number of people have then said they have never seen him at their schools.
East Devon Watch looks forward to receiving details of places he has visited in East Devon during his time in Parliament, though with the following exclusions:
1. Not in the last six months, for obvious reasons
2. Not those premises belonging to local party stalwarts being rewarded by a visit
3. Not party donors
4. Not those which were just arrive-and-run photo-opportunities and
5. Not businesses belonging to former members of the East Devon Business Forum
We suspect it will not be a long list, particularly as his Foreign travels, buddying arrangements with global businesses and Tory fundraising auctioneering in London have kept him pretty busy.
What Hugo Swire thinks of people who use food banks
Hugo Swire said it was important to avoid users becoming dependent on the food bank and they should be encouraged to learn to cook for themselves.
Translation: poor people are going to food banks because they don’t know how to cook.
NO: they go to food banks because they can’t afford to BUY food to cook.
“We have to be careful to instil the idea of responsibility,” said Mr Swire. “There will always be people who can’t manage their own affairs.”
Translation: people who go to food banks are just irresponsible people who can’t manage their perfectly adequate money.
NO: many people who go to food banks are working people with families and on low pay and/or zero hours contracts who just don’t have enough money to survive.
“I think it’s a very useful role for the churches and the community to play and one that’s always gone on in one way or another. It’s what the Big Society is about.
Translation: it’s not our job to feed poor people.
NO: we all share the responsibility of taking care of the poorest in our society – but particular responsibility for this should be placed on the rich.
“The key is to encourage people who come to understand why they are coming.”
Translation: Poor people are lazy scroungers who have no idea how to manage their money and should get off their backsides.
NO, they are just much unluckier than you – they didn’t have inherited wealth or an Eton education to give them a good start in life.
Mr Swire added: “No one should have to be dependent on a food bank. What concerns me is the elderly people who are perhaps not getting enough to eat, but are embarrassed and feel it’s beneath them.”
Translation: Most of my core voters are old and I must suck up to them because every vote for me counts in this safe seat.
YES: he finally got something right!
http://www.sidmouthherald.co.uk/news/election/food_banks_not_political_1_4046334
Final General Electionhustings this week: Sidmouth (Tuesday) Cranbrook (Wednesday)
Final chance to make up your mind or change your mind!
Remember, East Devon Conservatives say it is too close to call – your vote REALLY WILL COUNT this time round!
Sidmouth: Tues. 28 April 2015
VGS General Election Hustings 7.30 pm for 7.50 pm start.
Questions to be submitted in advance to info@visionforsidmouth.org
Cranbrook: Wednesday 29 April 2015
St Martin’s School – opposite Younghayes Centre
7.30 pm for 8.00 pm start 9.30 pm finish
Extra, extra: East Devon Conservatives change their home page!
It doesn’t seem to have changed since at least 2014 but today we have this WONDERFUL NEW IMAGE ON THE HOME PAGE!
Seems they haven’t yet heard about the stupendous fisaco with postal votes in East Devon (see posts below) but then it is a safe seat for our former MP and our currrent councillors isn’t it!
You want to know what the Conservatives have planned for East Devon? You have to give them your email address and postcode AND opt in to receive propaganda!
Hugo Swire has a link on Twitter so you can find out what his party has planned for our area:
https://www.conservatives.com/yourarea.aspx
Unfortunately it forces you to put your postcode and email address – you can’t search for “East Devon” or “Sidmouth” anonymously so the data collected knows where you live within a few yards AND it signs you up to receive Conservative Party propaganda and fundraising emails until you opt out!
We chose not to use it! East Devon Watch likes its privacy!
Why is Cameron afraid of this man?
Probably for the same reasons that Swire should be afraid of Claire Wright!
http://www.pressreader.com/uk/the-guardian/20150425/281487864894772/TextView
Real Zorro strikes again and he’s not happy!
Real Zorro obviously has very high standards. As a public service he has been investigating the quality and availability of information that the two front- runners in East Devon’s elections are providing us with, including what is apparently now called a “360 degree multi-media presence” which Real Zorro knows all about!
He finds Claire Wright’s presence (website, blog, Facebook, Twitter, You Tube and probably lots of other things) up-to-date, easy to access and informative.
But, oh, he is SO disappointed both with Hugo Swire and East Devon Conservatives, where information is sadly lacking, web pages are SO old and so out-of-date it is embarrassing (or should be) and the lack of “news” and “events” is particularly worrying.
Seems like they don’t have many people who are able to work this interweb malarky and they don’t have much of a social life either ….!
Hugo says people who rip down posters are sad and fear democracy
Hugo Swire says on his Twitter feed that people who rip down election posters are sad – indeed they are. He also thinks they fear democracy, which is also true. We should all have a fair crack of the whip (unless we are Independent candidates who don’t like Whips very much!).
But we must also add that ANYONE who puts them up on a highway will have them taken down by Devon County Council – and that’s democracy at work too!
Major Tory donor benefits from Government advertising and Tory election visits
The Independent – JCB and its billionaire owners donated more than £1 million to the Conservative party in the financial year 2014-15, Electoral Commission records show. The company was subsequently featured prominently in Government-sponsored and promoted advertising. The Independent states
…”JCB’s headquarters in Staffordshire has been used by the Government as the location for several prominent speeches, announcements and PR visits.
Downing Street chose it as the location for David Cameron’s long-awaited speech on immigration last November, which generated a large amount of media exposure for the construction and equipment firm.
George Osborne visited the company immediately after delivering his 2013 Autumn Statement, again attracting media coverage for JCB.
Transparency data revealed that the firm smoothed the trip for the Chancellor by providing a helicopter, meaning he did not waste too much time travelling up north for the PR stunt.
Other UKEF publications that feature JCB include the promotional brochure ‘How UK Export Finance is Helping UK Business: Making Exports Happen’ and another document titled ‘Competitive export finance for growth’.
JCB and the Bamford family have donated nearly £6 million to the Conservative party.
Lord Bamford, chairman of JCB and his brother Mark are long-term supporters of the Tories and together with Lord Bamford’s son George, the three of them have personally donated more than £2 million to the Conservative party since the Electoral Commission obliged parties to disclose donations over £7,500 in 2001.
Donations from three companies owned by the family – JC Bamford Excavators Ltd, JCB Research and JCB Sales Ltd – total £4 million.
Labour said government ministers had “serious questions to answer”. Shadow Cabinet Office minister Jon Ashworth said: “This smacks of cronyism. It seems taxpayers’ money is being spent promoting a major Tory donor.
“The Tories are ramping up advertising spending in advance of the election, looking after their mates and their electoral interests in the process. People expect better and will not accept public funds being used in this way.”
A Conservative party spokesman said: “We are proud to be backed by a great British success story, a British company that employs thousands of people here in the UK and operates around the globe.
“Unlike Labour, donations to the Conservative party do not buy our policies, our leader of our candidates.“
When is a Tory not a Tory?
When standing for a town council, of course: http://eastdevon.gov.uk/media/1051007/sidmouth-north.pdf
Confusing for voters, though, when the very same Stuart Hughes (or a different one?) was the proposer for Tory PPC Hugo Swire. See http://eastdevon.gov.uk/media/1050699/spn-nop-sps.pdf
EDW note: The second link, above, has a useful list of polling stations…which voters are sometimes unsure of.
Another reason to vote Independent
“This election’s manifestos, one regrets to report, remain unenlivened by a single obscenity. Ukip’s bellicose little document aside, they are decent, civilised, kid-gloved affairs, reluctant for the most part to go on the offensive against the other parties for fear of negative campaigning.
By a striking coincidence, almost all of them advocate a prosperous economy, a better deal for young people, a better deal for old people, a better deal for farmers, babies and badgers, a world-class educational system, affordable housing, controlled but fair immigration, the best possible start in life for your child, higher wages for everybody and equal opportunities for all. Only the Greens break with this bland consensus by having a special policy for helping bees.
Not a single manifesto has the guts to declare its intention to discriminate against people with freckles, strip the inhabitants of Swansea of their civil rights, deport Bruce Forsyth or promise a free bottle of whisky a day to every household. Most of them promise to put the patient first when it comes to the NHS, rather than breaking with this banal orthodoxy and prioritising syringes or stethoscopes instead.”
Parachute MPs in safe seats
“The policy of parachuting in candidates from Westminster to a safe party seat somewhere so that that person is essentially guaranteed power is poisonous.”
Safe constituency?
Letter published by Western Morning News:
“So Mr Swire, in defiance of the Electoral Reform Society, regards Devon East as a “safe” Conservative seat? But how would he know when, until recently, he he has little contact with his constituency?
Have his advisers not warned him of the huge popular support for homegrown Independent candidate Claire Wright who is now the only parliamentary candidate who could unseat him? Has he not been told that she has actually listened to the concerns of local people? Is he not aware of her impressive record of public service to her community in combating inappropriate development of East Devon’s precious green spaces, in campaigning for greater local democracy, and in fighting to keep hospital units and other key public services, all of which have been under sustained attack from Mr Swire’s government’s cut-backs?
And does Mr Swire think that by erecting large expensive blue billboards in fields (often those owned by those who have been exploiting our green and pleasant land) that he can persuade the public to vote again for a party whose planning set-up has given the green light to such developments?
It is often unguarded comments that show the true nature of a person. Mr Swire’s arrogant joke when acting as auctioneer at the exclusive Mayfair fundraising party in February reveals his attitude to those less fortunate than himself – he said that anyone on benefits could afford to bid £55,000 to support the Conservative Party.”
Michael Temple (Sidmouth address and contact number)
Body language
Great photo of Hugo Swire at the Clyst Vale Community College hustings on the Facebook Page of Claire Wright Independent Parliamentary Candidate page – his body language says it all!
It can’t have helped that this was one of the local places where Claire Wright received her education. Maybe she would have been intimidated if she had been at Eton (Hugo’s old school) though we doubt it!
East Devon Watch 