Election candidates set out their stalls in Sidmouth hustings

The hustings was organised by the Vision Group for Sidmouth (VGS). All but one of the candidates standing in the Honiton & Sidmouth constituency attended: Jake Bonetta (Labour), Richard Foord (Lib Dem), Simon Jupp (Conservative), Vanessa Coxon (Independent), Hazel Exon (Party of Women) and Paul Quickenden (Reform UK). The Green candidate, Henry Gent, was unable to attend.

After an introduction by VGS chair Ian Gregory, each candidate made an opening statement. Jake Bonetta spoke passionately of the ‘need for change’ and outlined his party’s national policies on the key issues, emphasising that they were ‘fully costed’ and would not involve a rise in taxes. Simon Jupp (Conservative) spoke of his track record as the MP for East Devon, campaigning on the issues local people care about, including bus services, bank closures and sewage pollution. He said he would continue to champion local causes if elected. Richard Foord said his party’s priorities were a better health service, economic stability and a cleaner environment, and that he would bring ‘honesty and integrity’ to the role of MP.

Vanessa Coxon said electing an Independent MP was ‘the only way to get the voice of the people into Government’. She said politics is heavily influenced by the powerful lobbying of retail corporations, the fossil fuel industry and big pharma, and that all parties made promises they could not keep.

The Party of Women, represented at the hustings by Hazel Exon, is an anti-transgender, single issue political organisation. Hazel outlined their policies against gender transitioning, particularly among young people, and spoke out against the influence of trans rights in schools and the NHS.

Paul Quickenden, for Reform UK, said anyone wanting to know about his party’s policies could look up their manifesto on the Reform UK website.

The candidates then answered a series of questions submitted by audience members. These covered the issues of how to restore the economy; the future of agriculture and food security; the problems in the education system; NHS waiting lists and access to GPs and dentists; water quality and the conduct of water companies; the action needed to combat climate change; and whether the UK should be seeking to re-establish a closer relationship with the EU.

Throughout the debate Simon Jupp emphasised his involvement in these issues on a local level as the MP for East Devon. He spoke of the importance of retaining and developing community NHS healthcare services, his visits to schools to discuss higher salaries for teachers, teaching assistants, and specialist SEN staff. and his meetings with South West Water to demand action on sewage discharges. He called for supermarkets to pay farmers a fairer price for their produce.

The Labour and Liberal Democrat candidates put more emphasis on their parties’ national policies on these issues, criticising the Government’s actions. Richard Foord outlined the Lib Dems’ ‘flagship’ policy on the NHS, which includes improving access to GP appointments. Jake Bonetta – who has recently had abdominal surgery in hospital – said the nurses had told him they felt ‘forgotten’ by the current government. He promised that Labour would reduce waiting lists and ‘rescue’ NHS dentistry.

One issue on which all parties and the audience clearly agreed was the need for stronger regulation of water companies. The audience were also concerned about climate change, and many applauded Richard Foord’s proposal that the LibDems would seek to rejoin the European single market.

The hustings ended shortly after 9pm. Chair Ian Gregory said: "Thank you to the public for their engagement, and the unprecedented number of questions received.  I would also like to express my thanks to the candidates for conducting the hustings in a courteous and respectful manner."

A video of the Sidmouth hustings is now available via the Vision Group for Sidmouth's website.