Election hustings in Sidmouth - a roundup

This is from the Vision Group for Sidmouth's website earlier today:

Parliamentary, District and Town hustings were put on by the Vision Group over the past three weeks. Here's an overview.

Weds 29th April

Last night - Tuesday 28th April - saw the last, and busiest, 'meet the candidates' session put on by the Vision Group to enable candidates and electorate to debate the issues.

It was the busiest - attracting capacity crowds - because issues of national importance have naturally figured highest on the media's agenda - and because, again according to the media, everything is open.

The question has certainly been raging as to whether East Devon is a 'safe seat' - a constituency held by the Conservative Party for decades with a very large majority. But this might well be upset, with strong challenges from the country's strongest independent candidate and the presence of a serious UKIP contender.

Having said that, all five candidates at last night's hustings were of excellent calibre - all good public speakers, all in command of their arguments and all ready to take on contentious issues.

It should be an interesting result next Thursday.

The first hustings back on Wedneday 15th April saw candidates for the District Council election gather - and this was perhaps even more contentious, as several of the incumbent candidates declared they were 'unable' to take part.

These local elections have been fired up by the upstart East Devon Alliance, an umbrella group for independent candidates who are seeking to challenge those incumbent councillors.

However, despite the bitterness and rancour behind the scenes and in the media, the hustings were more than civil - and again, the calibre of candidates was very solid indeed on all sides.

The middle hustings on Tuesday 21st April were the least well attended - perhaps it was the tea-time slot or the location - or perhaps it was the fact that the Town Council is too low in most people's radar - which is a pity as this local authority is the closest to the community.

But the fact that this is the first time in almost 20 years that there have been any elections at all for the Town Council is significant - and again, this has created tensions, in that several incumbent councillors said they were 'unable' to attend the hustings.

Nevertheless, the Vision Group is very grateful that so many candidates took part in all three events - showing a real enthusiasm for the democratic process and a real willingness to engage with the electorate.

The VGS will continue to act as an enabler of such meetings, as we look forward to life after 7th May.

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See also:

General election:

Futures Forum: Hustings in Sidmouth: East Devon Parliamentary election >>> meet the candidates: Tuesday 28th April

Futures Forum: Climate change: and the views of East Devon's parliamentary candidates

Futures Forum: Rural issues: what the political parties have to say >>> regional hustings @ Westpoint >>> Thursday 23rd April

Futures Forum: Energy round-up: what are the UK parties’ policies?

Futures Forum: Affordable housing: the political parties' policies >>>>>> an overview

District Council election:

Futures Forum: East Devon District Council elections: what the websites say >>> Conservatives and East Devon Alliance on-line

Futures Forum: Streetlife debates the election issues for Sidmouth: part 2

Futures Forum: Streetlife debates the election issues for Sidmouth

Futures Forum: Hustings in Sidmouth: East Devon District Council election Meet the candidates >>> more reports

Futures Forum: East Devon District Council elections >>> latest from Honiton > Axminster > Ottery

Futures Forum: East Devon District Council elections: Meet the candidates: Hustings in Sidmouth >>> 7.30pm Wednesday 15th April >>> and further reports

Town Council election:

Futures Forum: Sidmouth Town Council Election >>> Meet the candidates and councillors >>> reports

Futures Forum: Sidmouth Town Council Election >>> Meet the candidates and councillors >>>>> tomorrow Tuesday 21st April >>> 6pm at the College

Futures Forum: Hustings in Sidmouth: Town Council Election >>>>>>>>> Meet the candidates >>> UPDATE >>> Tuesday 21st April

Vision Group for Sidmouth - Election hustings in Sidmouth - a roundup.
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