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Friday 1 December 2017

Brexit: and how concern about the effect on farmers came to Torridge District Council

Where to for farming?

Tiverton & Honiton MP and Chairman of the Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (EFRA) committee Neil Parish has been speaking about the importance of farmers in maintaining the fabric of the UK’s countryside:

Sheep and farmers play essential role in maintaining the fabric of the UK countryside says MP - Devon Live

Earlier this month, a Devon farmer travelled to Westminster with concerns:

Political chiefs assure worried Devon farmer that post-Brexit future is bright

Food and welfare standards, the environment, and trade deals are top of the list of concerns for farmers

Lauren Harris 15 NOV 2017



Cheryl Cottle-Hunkin (Image: Cheryl Cottle-Hunkin)

A Devon farmer has travelled to Westminster to discuss her concerns about the implications of Brexit for her farm and agricultural community with the government.

Cheryl Cottle-Hunkin, 29, is from Torrington, North Devon, and plans to take on her family sheep farm in Petrockstowe in the future.

Cheryl travelled up to Westminster at the end of October to speak about the future for farmers post-Brexit with Geoffrey Cox, Torridge and West Devon MP. She went with a group of people from Devon for Europe, a cross-party campaign group which stands for the message that continued UK membership of the EU must be recognised as a legitimate option.


Political chiefs assure worried Devon farmer that post-Brexit future is bright - Devon Live

She has now been voted in as Devon's newest councillor:


Liberal Democrats take Ukip council seat in landslide win

Ukip went from holding the seat to last place taking just 4.2 per cent of the vote.


Joe Bulmer 1 DEC 2017

A Liberal Democrat candidate concerned about the effect of Brexit on farmers has taken a former Ukip district council seat in a landslide by-election win.

Ukip went from holding the Torridge District Council seat in Great Torrington, under Ukip councillor Roger Darch, to last place taking just 4.2 per cent of the vote. Liberal Democrat Cheryl Cottle-Hunkin, 29, received 701 votes, 60.3 percent of the vote, her nearest rival, independent Diana Davey received 180 votes, 15.4 percent. Ukip candidate John Pitts received just 4.2 per cent, 49 votes in total.


David Chalmers, Geoffrey Cox, Siobhan Strode and Cheryl Cottle-Hunkin (Image: Yasmin Kalhori)

Ms Cottle-Hunkin took to Facebook to thank voters in Torrington, she posted: “I just want to say thank you. Thank you to everyone who voted for me and thank you to everyone involved in the campaign.

“I’m still in disbelief. I thought it was going to be really close - I even gave someone a lift up at 9.30pm because I told them it was going to be tight and every vote counts. Thank you for believing in me and I hope I will do you and Torrington proud. I am proud to represent Torrington and I am proud to be a Liberal Democrat. I will stand up for what I believe in and work hard to get the best for Great Torrington.”

Cheryl travelled up to Westminster at the end of October to speak about the future for farmers post-Brexit with the Conservative MP for Torridge and West Devon, Geoffrey Cox.


Mayfair Celebrations in Torrington

She went with a group of people from Devon for Europe, a cross-party campaign group which stands for the message that continued UK membership of the EU must be recognised as a legitimate option. Cheryl and Mr Cox discussed what Brexit could mean for food and welfare standards, the environment, and trade deals with the US.

She told the MP she was particularly worried about the possibility of no deal at the end of the two year negotiations and said following World Trade Organisation rules would mean facing a staggering 46% tariff on lamb exports to the EU.

Cheryl said: “I reminded my MP that if he has a vote on the deal in Westminster, parliament is sovereign and he must vote in the national interest. As I left, I told him ‘don’t forget that’, and he assured me that he wouldn’t.”


Liberal Democrats take Ukip council seat in landslide win - Devon Live
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