Your SDA Candidate for Ashburton and Buckfastleigh - DISTRICT
[standing with Sue Clarke]

I am a musician, economics graduate, and former social worker who settled in Devon when my wife took a teaching post in Ashburton, where our daughter also attended school. As a candidate, my priority is ensuring the council is honest, accountable, and an effective democratic instrument in the public interest. "Business as usual" does not, in my view, best serve us.

In 2021, Transparency International UK discovered that up to 50% of English councils have planning practices that make them liable to corruption. This is unacceptable. Regardless of their political affiliation, if elected, I will collaborate constructively with all councillors to help ensure our council can become “best in class” in all areas.

Unfortunately, our council was recently censured by the Ombudsman for its recent conduct. Any appearance of a too cosy relationship between big developers and the council is very unhealthy. It may well be entirely innocent, but where there’s even the smallest appearance of a professional conflict of interest, and where transparency is not paramount, it’s only too easy to conclude that if it walks, quacks and looks like a duck, it’s likely to be a duck. Your vote for me will help safeguard that our council can never normalize back-room fixes.