Melksham & Devizes Conservatives released a statement on the 7th April explaining an internal audit revealed one of their candidates was “not qualified by residence as they believed they were,” and claimed it was a “genuine mistake.” Devizes residents have gathered on social media to express their concerns that electoral law has been broken and the affair is quietly being pushed under the carpet….
Conservative candidate Sarah Batchelor moved to the area in July last year, to take over as management of the Crown Inn in Bishops Cannings and therefore has not been resident in the area or on the electoral roll for the legal minimum requirement of twelve months to apply for a councillor role. Melksham & Devizes Conservatives said in their statement they have informed the Electoral Registration Officer and the candidate will “take no part in the campaign process nor take up their seat if elected.”
But residents are angered by both the belief this was not a genuine mistake as claimed, is an incident in which media attention is deliberately being avoided, and hypocritical when Melksham & Devizes Conservatives caused a major outcry at a local by-election, when a Devizes Guardian candidate accidentally breached election law. Another sour point was that the Melksham & Devizes Conservatives make no attempt to apologise for the mistake and any potential cost to the taxpayer if a reelection is necessary in the process which will follow. “You’d thought they’d have learnt after the PCC debacle a few years back,” the original poster stated, “is this what you want from local councillors?”
Announced on the MDCA X account, because everyone looks there!!!
“The qualifications and rules are clearly stated on the form, and an individual knows if they meet them or not,” one resident pointed out on the Facebook group, Devizes Issue (But Better,) where the debate is causing a storm. “If the individual completed the forms,” they continued, “they have falsified an application. If someone else completed them on their behalf – they have not carried out due diligence or have ignored the clear rules. So which is it?”
The group were informed by former Labour councillor Noel Woolrych that “this is actually a police matter and is in their hands. However, I least believe that the name will still appear on the ballot paper as they had already been printed.” This raises the issue if she will be replaced, and as another commenter stated, “even though the election will still go ahead and the Conservatives have distanced themselves from the candidate, her presence on the ballot could still influence the outcome. Votes cast for her could impact the overall vote share and potentially alter the result, even if she’s not officially endorsed. That in itself raises concerns about fairness and electoral integrity.”
Sarah Batchelor (far right) pictured with other Conservative hopefuls, including Jordan Overton
A reliable source informed us these forms will have been checked prior to submission by Conservative Wiltshire Councillor Iain Wallis, who also controversially runs another Facebook group, Devizes Issues. It is a fact that this councillor is head of promoting all Conservative candidates for Devizes South. Sensitive enough to question the overall honesty of the Melksham & Devizes Conservatives it appears then, that the issue here has been deliberately avoided on said group, and elsewhere by Melksham & Devizes Conservatives, despite Councillor Wallis creating his own storm in a teacup at a by-election last year when a Devizes East Guardian candidate made a minor omission on a leaflet, falsely claiming the candidate had been arrested.
“I see it as fraud on both parties,” another resident said, “First party being the person who completed the forms and stated in the declaration that they are correct knowing they are false. Second, the political party who vetted the form knowingly didn’t complete the due diligence process to ensure that their candidate was lawful and correct.”
Again, we suspect the desperate local Conservatives are playing dirty for this local election, as they do for national politics, yet clearly claiming on their social media posts they are “local people with the community as our focus, with no central party control and our focus is not on national politics,” to divide themselves with the downfall nationally of their party. Yet, we discover them clearly using national party funds to campaign, and boy, they certainly are influenced by their national party tactics!
And that’s the truth, dammit!!
On a banner produced by the Devizes Conservatives it is claimed what makes candidate Iain Wallis “stand out” is that he “believes that every resident should feel their voice is heard.” Shamefully laughable considering this debate has to appear on groups he does not administrate and will no doubt be excluded from his own popular Facebook group. A group which has seen opposition candidates, councillors, support groups, upstanding citizens and charity organisations, and anyone who dares to challenge his opinion with a differing one be rewarded with lifetime bans.
We also find ourselves in said club of “disregarded dissidents,” for stating the facts, are proud to say it has been this way for a long time, and consider it a badge of honour!
Although, I strongly suspect, as it has been in past times when we have been caused to be critical of Devizes Conservatives, Mr Wallis will bleat like a hurt lamb, hold up a victim card, claiming all manner of falsehoods that we are attacking him personally. This simply isn’t true, and never has been. We only intend to highlight scoops that, for some strange reason, no one else is willing to risk their backhanders or potential advertising revenue to cover with the clarity needed to expose fraudulent candidates, which this is clearly as a case of. Is it my fault the same name appears to crop up each time? A case I rest there.
As the original post creator asked the group, “is this what you want from local councillors?”
Have you had “the visit” yet? Your local councillor house-calling hand-in-hand with Conservative candidate Michelle Donelan? I have. At least it broke up my busy day with lighthearted banter! You know, by publishing their adventures in pestering on Facebook, they’re verging on breaking electoral rules, right?
Despite my pacifism means my assault would only have been verbal, I had to get the better half to face the candidate who cost the taxpayer £34,000 for her personal court case whilst using her position to insure her partner and their father profited from the pandemic, because I couldn’t be trusted, holding an electric hedge trimmer and all!
The leaflet was refused with an expression of surprise. It was surprising all round, in fact. I was surprised at the audacity to shamelessly parade the streets begging for votes; canvassing they call it, desperation I call it!
They were surprised upon my reply to their comment that it was “a nice day for it,” which was, “yes, when you get back perhaps you could pay back some of the money you stole!” Michelle’s expression was one of sucking a lemon, as she hurried to harass the next-door neighbour instead, without much fortune. And I, in turn, was surprised the backup was our own councillor who I like and trusted. But, if they come to your house begging for votes in this way, they are possibly breaking electoral rules, when such ventures are published, as they have been on Michelle Donelan’s own Facebook page. (It’s all cool, I was booted off her page for appealing against genocide, ages ago!)
On “prohibition of political publicity,” a Government Act 1986, which you can view for yourself at Legislation.gov.uk, it states “(1)A local authority shall not publish[F1, or arrange for the publication of,] any material which, in whole or in part, appears to be designed to affect public support for a political party.”
Yet, here they are, doing it. “Reels” are the deal, short videos to you or me, and Michelle has smattered her Facebook page with Wiltshire Conservative Councillor and Conservative Town Councillor endorsements. It doesn’t matter how many emojis you use to make it feel fun, this is still published matter, it is undemocratic and it borders on breaking electoral law.
Those who we know of who rallied the cause, at least those reels currently active online are Cllr Maria Hoult, Devizes South Town Councillor, Cllr Laura Mayes Wiltshire Councillor for Bromham & Rowde, Cllr Jack Oatley Wiltshire Councillor for Melksham Forest, Cllr Brian Burchfield of Colerne, Cllr Johnny Kidney Wiltshire Councillor for Winsley & Westwood, and Cllr Nick Holder for Bowerhill.
UPDATE: Our sources though have been informed by a spokesperson for Wiltshire Police, and after a thorough investigation with senior people in the electoral commission they have found “no wrongdoing.” This is because it was not published on a Wiltshire Council platform. The conclusion of their investigation is that we must apologise for our mistake when stating it was unlawful, and we have edited this out with fairness. Still, to us the internal ethics of attempting to influence the electorate is unfair on opposition parties.
It seems they are so confident they will not be exposed by local media for flaunting electoral law in this way, they will brazenly publish such material unashamedly. We will be chatting to the candidates for alternative options over the coming weeks, so you can make your own mind up without the persuasion of “your local councillors,” so stay tuned!
Oh, and the hedge looks great now, thanks for asking; just shaved a little off the top and sides!
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The Liberal Democrat’s are today celebrating a historic election win in the heart of Marlborough, in the first contested Town Council election for thirteen years….
In what was dubbed a “Battle of the Carolines,” the Lib Dem Caroline Sadler triumphed with 62% of the vote in what was once a traditional Conservative heartland.
The result came in at just after 11pm on Thursday night. A delighted Caroline Sadler paid tribute to Caroline Wrench (the Conservative candidate) and thanked all of the election staff before committing herself to work hard for all the people of Marlborough.
David Kinnaird Liberal Democrat candidate for East Wiltshire congratulated Caroline Sadler, and said “we have to see this result is a stunning win for Liberal values. It is a rejection of the Conservatives and marks the beginning of a political sea change in East Wiltshire. Roll on the GE.”
Congratulations to Caroline, and we wish her all the best in her role.
Taken from the Wiltshire Council press release, this is such promising news we simply had to pinch it……..
Almost 5,000 votes were cast across the county, as forty one young people from across Wiltshire are preparing to take their seats on the first ever Wiltshire Youth Council, following a successful election campaign.
89 candidates from 21 schools and the local community took part in the election process with almost 5,000 votes cast across the county. The elections ran from 31 January to 4 February and young people voted online via their school to selected their preferred candidate.
The successful candidates were informed this week and now are being advised of the next steps to having their say in local democracy. A total of 4972 student voted across the county.
Wiltshire Youth Councillors will:
Meet up with Wiltshire Council leaders and have their say on local decisions.
Work with area boards to ensure funding for youth projects has the right impact for them and their peers.
Inspect services to ensure they represent young people’s best interests.
Communicate with their peers so young people’s views are properly represented.
Opportunity to shadow council leaders as a shadow youth cabinet member for a particular area of interest.
Youth councillors will be asked to commit one evening per month to attend a full youth council meeting, which will focus on issues important to the young people. They will also be expected to talk to their peers about the issues and represent their views. There will also be training to support them in their roles, covering topics including debating, running a youth inspection and delivering presentations.
Wiltshire Youth Council has also recruited Special Advisors, these are young people that ensure that the views of the underrepresented are heard. There will be Special Advisors that champion different causes such as young carers, children in care, LGBTQ+ young people and military families.
Cllr Laura Mayes, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services said: “Congratulations to everyone who took part in this process and well done to those who were successfully appointed. Having your voice to champion causes which are important to you and your peers is key to our work and I look forward to working with you in the future.”
Lily and Dennis are the Wiltshire Youth Councillors for John of Gaunt School in Trowbridge.
Lily, aged 13, said she’d wanted to put herself forward to campaign for a number of areas including equality and environmental issues. She said: “I’m very happy to be selected. I’m most looking forward to helping people in my new role.”
Dennis, aged 11 said: “There are so many problems in the community and I wanted to do something about them instead of waiting for someone else to do something. I didn’t expect to win the election because I don’t know many people the same age as me going for election so I was surprised but happy to be successful.”
Make no mistake, there’s a civil war under our noses, which comes to an apex when blood-thirsty predators triumphantly parade their wrongdoing on a day when most of us struggle out of bed to reach the fridge. Judge for yourselves who’s the goodies and who’s the baddies here, but pray tell me you’re not party to this obnoxious pageant? I mean, hardly “Christmassy,” is it, unless of course, Santa puts a bullet in the head of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer for not keeping up with the herd?
Posing a question in a headline, I’ve learned, attracts hits. Usual method is for me to then waffle endlessly, circling the question but never really answering it, until, only sometimes, at the conclusion. I’m gonna swap, answer it now, get it out in the open. Can we stop Boxing Day hunts across Wiltshire?
Don’t be disillusioned, and apologises for bursting any bubbles; the answer is no, not a chance, pal.
Despite good news last week that the Wilton Hunt Ball has been postponed due to the omicron outbreak, we all know pandemic restrictions last year didn’t bother them, and with reference to breaking news of government Christmas parties, flaunting the law for the most powerful in society doesn’t need investigating, according to police.
I mean, whatever did happen to the inquiry as to how hunting organisations pushed for a drink-driving Avon Huntsmaster to stand as Wiltshire PCC, costing the taxpayer over £3million for a re-election? The carpet is looking lumpy, how much more can be brushed under it?
Every avenue I explore on this subject gets blocked, no one in any position of power to help wants to address the issue. That is a total and utter disgrace and they should, quite frankly, hold their heads in shame.
Make no mistake, Boxing Day Hunts aren’t the bee-all-and-end-all of hunting, but they’re the most important hunt on the annual calendar, because the audience it attracts. The Countryside Alliance will try convince you droves arrive in support. True, Boxing Day hunts aim to condone and promote the tenet, crucial in their campaign to turn the Hunting Act 2004 on its head. Though many onlookers remain oblivious to the cruel realities, while others will be lobbying against it.
If all is not lost, councils of both county, town and parish levels can take action, if they wanted, ban it on their land, or at least refuse to accept invitations to, and disallow council land to be used to meet, thus reducing the celebration of blood sports and gradually eradicating the archaic and brutal custom.
In a heartfelt campaign, non-profit organisation, Keep the Ban, urge concerned folk to contact their councillors, celebrating success when Keswick Town Council in Cumbria decided to revoke their invitation to the John Peel Hunt. Locally, the wonderful Wiltshire Hunt Saboteurs informed me Bradford-on-Avon Town Council “have banned both hunting and culling on their land at town council level” but reckoned, “it’s mostly symbolic, although there are definitely council owned farms (tenant farmers of WCC) that do cull, so a wider wildlife protection policy is probably going to be more use.”
However, fresh from a meeting, Alison Kent, Clerk to Pewsey Parish Council replied yesterday, “the decision was to allow the Tedworth Hunt to meet in the car park on Monday 27th.” A local hunt which the Wiltshire Hunt Sabs claim “weaponised their horses against sabs.” Why would they do this, without anything to hide?
Armed Tedworth Hunters
My first port of call is Wiltshire Councillor Laura Mayes, who despite as Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Education and Skills, this is not her area of expertise, it must be said, is always willing to humour me and answer my endless questions on any random subject, and I thank her for her help. Although, her answer was unswerving; “I have done some digging and asked Cabinet colleagues and we all agreed that WC has no power to take any action, re trail-hunting as it is currently a legal activity. Any illegal activity would be a police matter.”
Wiltshire Council may convince themselves nothing illegal is happening, yet I argue, like a speeding driver, for them, the thrill of the activity outweighs the carnage it might cause. I’m no prude, I can understand it must be exhilarating to ride across the hillsides in pursuit of a target, addictive even, given hunting is ingrained in their psyche, passed down through generations. If an arsonist wandered into a fireworks factory with a lighter, would WC turn a blind eye, safe in the knowledge setting it alight would be illegal, therefore the arsonist would resist the temptation of their own obsession?
Countryside Alliance website outrightly states they oppose the hunting Act 2004, claiming it’s “bad for rural communities,” even, and, get your head around this brazen irony, “bad for animal welfare,” and a “waste of police resources.” If they feel like this, and nothing is done to prevent them, how on God’s earth can you expect them to not pursue a wild animal if it was to be caught in heat of the moment on this supposed fake trail?
Let’s take the last part of the CA’s stance; on Boxing Day police resources will be stretched, on a day they’d rather be peaceful I’d wager, because they’ll need to be present across the country where the crowds gather to observe this pretentiously parade of their unforgiving activity as a magnificent pageant. I have to wonder how much police time is spent keeping an eye on the hunters against policing the meetings. I also emailed Wiltshire Police to ask how they would actually patrol a hunt, horseback I’d imagine being the only effective method.
I also wished to enquire what their relationship with the hunt sabs was like, if they supported the portfolio sabs are building to suggest unlawful acts are indeed taking place. Only this week, they posted a video to their Facebook page clearly showing The Royal Artillery Hunt rioting on two deer in an SSSI area on Salisbury Plain Training Area on Saturday 4th December, and Huntsman, Charles Carter, did nothing to call them off; something the Daily Mail suggested put the sabs “at war” with the Army.
A spokesperson for the sabs told me, “If something is being used as a smokescreen for a crime then either it’s an illegal activity or the law needs addressing!” Face it, Western Huntsman John Sampson in Penzance, was only found guilty of being in charge of dogs which killed a cat caught in the hunt on a Cornish housing estate, because a neighbour filmed him from their window, shamelessly lobbing the cat’s dead body into a nearby garden. If it wasn’t filmed, there would be no evidence. A clear indication hunters need monitoring, but while my press office contact with Wiltshire Police is usually responsive, they felt the matter needed to be addressed by the Rural Crime Unit, and passing my queries onto them was the end of our communication.
Should the police wish to respond, I can amend this appropriately, but time is pushing forward to Boxing Day, and my only line of information comes from The Wiltshire Hunt Sabs themselves. Far from a Batman-Chief Commissioner Gordan relationship, where Gordan doesn’t necessarily like the vigilante but compromises on the grounds they share the same goal, the Hunt Sabs were keen to criticise Police.
“I can show you a clip of an officer blocking a byway,” the sabs expressed, “when challenged he demanded evidence that they were illegally hunting, which the sab asked ‘well if you stop blocking the public right of way, I can get you some.’ He refused.” Whatever happened to inspector’s hunch aside, if investigation isn’t gathered by official resources, someone has to, furthermore, isn’t the officer acting unlawfully in blocking the byway, it’s a public right of way?
“Yeah,” the sabs replied, “accessing the byway was first a small section of ORPA (other routes of public access) so even though he had no idea what the public access rights where, he still chose to block it, even after offering to show him on an OS Map.”
Playing devil’s advocate, I supposed, his defence would be they were potentially there to “start trouble” when the hunters were doing nothing illegal. But how can he tell if the police don’t even follow the hunt? Have the Sabs ever seen police patrolling a hunt, keeping up with it to insure nothing illegal occurs?
“There’s no history of us starting trouble,” they replied. “The hunts always claim that but we don’t. We’re just there to make sure they don’t kill. Wilts Police have never to my knowledge ever patrolled a hunt. Any time they are there it is to ‘keep the peace,’ which in reality means blocking us from stopping them killing. The police don’t even know the law; on one hunt recently, two officers turned up and had to Google it on the way. I had to explain to them everything that was happening, and to be fair they listened, but initially they were too quick to take the hunt’s word that they were legally hunting. They have no training on this, I personally have emailed the rural crime team and asked, they’re not interested.”
I gulp at this, as while Wiltshire rural crime unit certainly isn’t responsive, the sabs said Gloucestershire Police now have “operation hunt,” and have said they will go out to hunts. But the real hard pill to swallow was my contact with The Wiltshire Hunt Sabs felt contacting the authorities was futile, adding in their understandable frustrations, “I can’t see them doing much, I personally have given up bothering with them.”
Still, all they ask for doing the tasks the police you pay for should be, is the price of a coffee to help their campaign funding, and they ask you sound your objection to Pewsey Parish Council for allowing the Tedworth Hunt to meet in their carpark, or contacting your MP and councillors in general, as Boxing Day Hunts go further than simply potentially bludgeoning a fox or any other animal which might accidently stumble into the crossfire, to death, but also act as a celebration and promotion of such cruelty.
I wish the season of goodwill to all men could extend to all life, all god’s creatures great and small, and I’m a realist who cannot accept nothing unlawful is happening here, when photograph and video evidence is there for all to see that clearly it is, and I thank the sabs for their time when others in power barely gave theirs, and for the difficult and arduous task they take on.
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